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Orewa Lions’ first Santa Session saw people dressed in Christmas outfits enjoy the hospitality of eight bars and restaurants in Orewa town centre.
The event, on Sunday, December 1 is modelled on a fundraiser that has been held in Sydney for more than 15 years and now attracts around 1000 revellers.
The idea is that people, dressed in festive style, pay for a wristband that gives them access to special food and drink offers at participating bars.
Orewa Lions sold 100 tickets and a total of $4255 was raised for mental health charity I Am Hope.
Organiser Clive Hebben of Orewa Lions says de-briefing is ongoing.
“The first event is a learning curve, but we are very happy with how it went and it will definitely become a regular on the pre-Christmas calendar,” Clive says.
He said Lions particularly want to thank the venues, which all put on special deals and live music to create a festive atmosphere. “One thing that stood out for me was the number of people who visited venues they hadn’t been to previously – so that was a positive thing for the businesses involved.”
He says the Santas and elves out and about in Orewa attracted attention and made people keen to get involved next year.
Clive says the event is not designed to be for the same charity every time, and he hopes that a range will benefit.
Lion Mandy Hebben says when Lions were choosing the charity for the inaugural Santa Session, a number of people questioned whether a mental health charity was a good fit with an event that takes place in licensed premises (in Sydney it was originally called ‘the Santa Pub Crawl’).
She says this was carefully considered by Lions and discussed with the charity in question, I Am Hope, right at the start.
“I Am Hope was happy as it’s not their event, it is a Lions event,” Mandy says. “They are just the recipients of the funding.”
She says whichever charity was chosen, there was potential conflict with an event that includes alcohol.
“However, I Am Hope representatives also talked about the positives for mental health that come from getting people out and socialising, and for men in particular opening up over a beer,” Mandy says.
“Creating a social, fun atmosphere with responsible drinking was definitely the focus of our first Santa Session, which is why there was a set time (2pm-7pm) and it was held on a Sunday afternoon.”
The event was the swansong for long-term Orewa Lions couple Mandy and Clive, who are moving out of the area.
“You could say it’s our parting gift,” Clive says.
