PORTLAND’S festive celebrations are all ready to go, with the Bentinck Street Christmas tree lights lifted into place this week, and New Year’s Eve foreshore entertainment announced.

After being held up by a windy week, workers from local businesses Menzel Electrical and Keppel Prince Engineering yesterday got to work setting up the lights on the large Norfolk Pine that has served at the city’s Christmas tree for more than 50 years.

Both do the work in-kind for the community, which Menzel’s owner Bob Menzel says is no small job.

“It takes about two days to prepare the lights to go up, what happens is the cockatoos get into them and chew them out, it probably takes one bloke somewhere around 12 hours to get them ready to go up,” he said.

“Then we bring the whole crew down to put them up, we roll the lines all down the hill and string them up from there.”

“People have been asking why its not up already, but last week the wind just didn’t stop blowing.”

Keppel Prince general manager Dan McKinna said his company donates their 55-ton crane along with a driver and a dogman for the day to assist Mr Menzel’s crew of around eight to get the job done.

“We've always done it as in-kind support for the council, and support for the Portland community,” he said.

As one of the largest organisations in the area, Mr McKinna said Keppel made an effort through actions such as the crane donation to stay connected to the community, and helping to hang the Christmas lights was a point of pride for himself and his workers.

“It’s important to us that we help out wherever we can,” he said.

Back in October Glenelg Shire Council announced that it would cut its funding to light the Christmas tree, and put an end to holding major Christmas or New Year’s Eve events in Portland.

After a week of community uproar that decision was reversed.

Glenelg Shire Mayor Karen Stephens said the council “well and truly” got the message of how important the tree and celebrations were to the community.

“I personally just wanted to really sincerely thank Dan and Keppel Prince, and Bob and Menzel’s for keeping up the tradition and doing the work for council over many, many years,” she said.

“If it wasn’t for their support, we wouldn’t be able to keep up this tradition.”

Portland New Year’s Eve celebrations

LIVE New Year’s Eve entertainment leading up to the fireworks shows will return to the Bentinck Street lawn this year, headlined by half-local musical act Little Georgia.

Festivities return from 5.30pm on 31 December on the Portland Foreshore, opening with the Koondoom Yarkeen Indigenous Dancers followed by up-and-coming young local Jasmine Biadacz, and another act to be announced.

Then it will be time for folk rock act Little Georgia, made up of Narrawong local Justin Carter, Ashleigh Mannix (who hails from NSW’s northern rivers) and band, who will play from 8.30pm to 10pm, when the first round of fireworks will be set off.

Mr Carter said the pair were very excited to be playing at what he knew was such an iconic Portland event.

“It’s really going to be great, we’re super stoked,” he said.

“Especially growing up here, knowing what it is and seeing all the families come down for their special New Year's bringing the family down on the grass, so we’re super excited to be able to provide some entertainment.”

Mr Carter said it was great to see the shire supporting local artists with their event budget.

“It’s really important and can really mean a lot,” he said.

“We’ve been trying to get the full band down for quite some time, but haven’t been able to find the right venue and stuff like that.

“So, it’s really exciting to have this come up, we can’t wait.”

Along with the live stage, there will be free kids’ activities for three hours from 6pm, and afterwards live music will also be a feature at the Gordon and Royal Hotels from 10pm to 1am.

Fireworks displays will take place at the Northern Boat Ramp from 10pm, and the second one at midnight.

Cr Stephens said she looked forward to the lawns packing out for the night’s entertainment.

“What a fantastic opportunity to showcase the beautiful Portland foreshore, and what a great amphitheatre we have here for the fireworks and to showcase local content,” she said.

“It’s giving them the opportunity to profile their talents and into their local community, and you never know who's going to be visiting and might see the show.”

As part of the Shire’s new community grants program for New Year’s Eve, Barr Amusements will receive $2500 for a pop-up inflatable playground at the Portland Foreshore New Year’s Eve event.

The Gordon and Royal Hotels in Portland will also each receive $,500 to put on live music, while the Royal will also receive a further $2500 for an afternoon family friendly event.

Events across the Shire

ALONG with the Portland’s iconic events, New Year’s Eve celebrations will be going on across the shire.

Casterton will be doing things a little different by celebrating ‘New Year’s Eve Eve’ on December 30, with a party at Island Park from 3pm.

There will be market stalls, food, drink and a variety of live music.

Casterton Sandford Football Netball Club will receive $2500 to host the Casterton event.

Heywood will also again include fireworks in its New Year’s Eve event, with details of the event yet to be announced.

“The football club are going to do the party in the park and then of course we always sponsor the Heywood event, so that's happening as well,” Cr Stephens said.

“So just a great shout out to those volunteers in those communities that go out of their way to ensure that the community can celebrate as well, and council is very happy to support those volunteer groups.”