Hobart businesses invited to get festive this Christmas season

Published on 04 October 2023

The City of Hobart is bringing back a Christmas favourite to help celebrate the festive season in the capital and support local businesses.

The City of Hobart is reinstating the popular Christmas window display competition for the first time since 2018 to encourage local businesses to get creative and spread Christmas cheer.

The Hello Christmas, Hello Hobart window display competition will see local retailers, such as Lily & Dot's Katinka Dineen (pictured), go above and beyond to bring a festive feel to their storefronts.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the competition was open to all business in the municipality, with a registered businesses going into the draw to win two Taste of Summer season passes and tickets to the New Year's Eve event.

Other prizes will include a People’s Choice Award and Best Photo Award of a Christmas Window Display.

“We know local businesses are essential to the Hobart community, that's why supporting our local businesses and local economy matters,” Cr Reynolds said.

“The Hello Christmas, Hello Hobart Competition is one of the many ways the City supports local businesses with initiatives and programs aimed at boosting our local economy, including attracting visitation to our city centre and beyond.”

Participating businesses will be listed on the Hello Hobart website, displayed on an online map and promoted across the City of Hobart and Hello Hobart social media channels.

The City will encourage members of the public to move around all the decorated stores and vote for their favourite.

Entry is free for businesses within the Hobart municipality, with participating retailers given a QR code window decal to put up to encourage people to vote.

Hobart’s City Economy Portfolio Chair Louise Bloomfield said this was a great initiative to bring Christmas cheer to Hobart while backing local retailers.

“This is a great way to make sure people stop and look at your store,” Ald Bloomfield said.

“Even when you aren't open, they might just see the perfect gift they then come back for.

“We want to ensure Christmas is a special time in Hobart – for residents, shoppers and business owners.”

Expressions of interest for businesses are now open and will close on Tuesday, 31 October.

The competition will start on Saturday, 18 November, to coincide with Tasmania’s biggest Christmas event, the City of Hobart Myer Christmas Pageant.

Voting will close at midnight, 31 December, with prize winners announced early in the New Year.

Businesses can register for the competition on the Hello Hobart website: hellohobart.com.au