Santa Claus has come to Penola and Coonawarra, with the jolly man and his helpers popping up everywhere to spread some festive cheer.
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It is for the Stuffed Santa competition, run by the Penola District Business & Tourism Association and the Coonawarra Vignerons Association.
More than 50 entries were received this year from businesses, wineries and even a few farmers who have got into the Christmas spirit and shown their creativity.
With the theme ‘A Country Christmas’, many include hay bales, wool packs and old farm implements.
Co-organiser Kirsty Balnaves says it is about bringing the community together.
“It is about adding some fun to the district and making people smile,” she said.
Six years ago Balnaves of Coonawarra’s workshop built a sleigh and put some Santa legs in their rosebushes on the road by the entrance to their cellar door, creating a scene like Sanata had crashed landed.
Ms Balnaves says the annual event has “snowballed” from there.
“ You can spend two hours (on your entry) or three days on it – it is whatever you like.”
At the street party, on Friday last week, Alex and Phil Lambert and their children Lucy and Jack were named the winners, with their outstanding steel drum reindeers and sleigh, pulling a trailer with another reindeer in it.
Jack Estate winery was the runner-up.
Entries will be on display until January 1 2017 for those in the area over the holiday period. A map of the location of the Santas is available from the Penola Coonawarra Visitor Information Centre.
