Geelong’s iconic Floating Christmas Tree has arrived at Steampacket Quay and will be officially switched on at “Christmas Opening Night – Denis Walter Carols by the Bay” on Saturday 30 November.
At 25 metres tall, the tree features 800 lights, more than 15,000 pixels to create animations and 30 new digital windows. It sits atop a stylish and larger heli-pad barge, adding an additional 1.5 metres to its ultimate height.
It took 20 people to assemble the 14-tonne tree over six weeks at St Helen’s breakwater in North Geelong.
The special opening event at Steampacket Gardens, guided by musical director Michael Cristiano, will kick off with a preshow and Team Dream kids’ entertainment, before performances from Denis Walter, Oz Boyz, Lucy Riddett, Julie Walter and Santa.
The night will culminate with a lucky child selected to flick the switch and light the spectacular Floating Christmas Tree, triggering low-level pyrotechnics and the start of the first sound and light show program.
The tree’s shows will play each night every 15 minutes between 8:30pm and midnight, running six minutes long.
There are two different shows to enjoy over the festive period, with the second show beginning on Boxing Day and running until the tree’s last day on Tuesday 7 January – coinciding with Orthodox Christmas.
Community members can get creative by changing the colours of the tree between sound and light shows.
