The community event will be held at the Moonby House retirement village, on the highway between Kootingal and Moonbi, and is set to try and attract a wide audience, organiser Brian Magill says.

Entertainment starts at 7pm, with carols and the combined school choir, which features pupils from Moonbi, Kootingal, Tintinhull and Bendemeer Public schools.

“It’s really good for those little schools who don’t often get together to do something like this,” Mr Magill said.

Kootingal Public School principal Chris Jackson said it was a “wonderful opportunity” for the pupils to sing in the combined choir, which features 17 children.

Emcee for the event will be Kootingal Lions Club member David Emanuel; the Tamworth brass band will also play.

Mr Magill said people were encouraged to bring along presents to place under a “reverse Christmas tree” which will be on site; the presents will be gifted to sick children at Ronald McDonald House.

The Kootingal-Moonbi Rural Fire Service will escort Santa into the building.

Mr Magill said the community event was formerly a street event held annually in Kootingal but exorbitant insurance costs killed it off, as they had for many other community parades and the like these days. 

The event starts at 6.30pm.