PARTY in the Park is a yearly staple of the Christmas season for families around Hamilton’s Rasmussen Avenue.

It’s a loving gesture that means a lot to families, many of whom round-the-board price increases have added to stress in a season which is already a lot to handle.

“The people that came were really comfortable and they were happy and enjoying themselves,” volunteer, Annette Huf said.

“Having the activities for the children brings whole families out.

“It’s a comfortable space where they know they’re welcome and they know it’s free.”

The event is pitched at families with kids in early primary school.

Centred around the playground of Rankin Court, big games like mega-connect four, craft activities for baubles and biscuits, and the creatively retold nativity story draw young and old together on the Saturday before Christmas.

Mrs Huf got up close and personal with the young children, helping them decorate Christmas tree baubles, biscuits and even themselves with glitter and icing.

She loved that parents got involved too, stepping in to run activities like face-painting with crayons.

Much preparation work happens in the weeks leading up – volunteers from Grace Fellowship Church letterbox drop house-to-house to collect the names, ages and genders of the neighbourhood children, and then purchase and gift wrap presents to hand out to every child on the day.

Mrs Huf said it was a personal joy just to be there and support the event.

“We get so caught up in the Christmas rush and food and presents and some people get really stressed,” she said.

“We need to change our perspective and our way of thinking - its more about connecting with people and our families.

“Those things are so much more important and if we’re not careful we can lose the joy of the season.”

She insisted that the grandfather of the event, Phil Baker, be recognised for his ongoing dedication to its success.

“Phil went to a lot of trouble,” Mrs Huf said.

“You can see his heart for his community.”

A child at heart, Phil puts a lot of effort into creating exciting games every year – like the thrilling marble-run-like Jaffa Smasher.

“He puts a lot of heart and soul into it and he had some amazing activities – he was pretty exhausted on the Sunday.”