The celebration will be held in the freshly landscaped gardens where numerous community organisations who will host children’s story telling, cooking and gardening demonstrations after the official opening at 9am.

Santa has promised to visit between 11am and noon and the gardens’ new interactive water fountain is very popular with children since it sprang into action last Wednesday.

A message of non-violence will be expressed through dance as local women participate in the One Billion Rising Dance as part of this year’s White Ribbon, 16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women campaign.

Bega Valley Shire Council mayor, Bill Taylor said the event will mark the completion of stage one, with the community invited to enjoy the relaxing surrounds of the new look Littleton Gardens.

“It’s a great pleasure to be opening this important public space for the community to enjoy,” he said.

“The new look gardens are the product of extensive consultation with the community. We’ve taken on board lots of suggestions from local people, with the brief always to provide the community with an attractive and centrally located place to relax.

“Of course the test for creating an open space that people will use and enjoy is to stroll through on a sunny day and see how many people are using the gardens as intended.

“I’m pleased to report that on my many visits to town I have witnessed lots of people enjoying the new look Littleton Gardens in many ways, be that sitting in the sun, relaxing on a bench and reading a book during a lunchbreak, or running through the new fountain, which has already become something of a local sport.

“There is also a level of detail in the gardens that many people will enjoy, from the Bega Pioneers’ Museum providing old photographs for the water bubbler, to the inlaid metal wallaby tracks crossing over the meandering path.

“The path is a vital part of the gardens, as it provides an important link between the two shopping areas, bringing increased customer traffic and interest to the Carp Street area, which is currently subject to other Council revitalisation initiatives, such as $1 million put aside for implementing the Bega CBD Landscape Masterplan, and our Renew the Valley project to fill empty shops with people wanting to give their creative businesses a go.

“So come along on Friday, join the celebration, meet with local community groups to see what they have on offer, and bring the kids, because I hear Santa will be in town,” Cr Taylor said.

Community Day activities are supported by Campbell Page, Auswide Projects, Bega Local Area Command Police, Far South Coast Family Support Service, Local Aboriginal Lands Council, Office of Communities, University of Wollongong, the Women’s Resource Centre and Bega Valley Shire Council’s Live Life team.