City of Swan Ellenbrook ward councillor Cate McCullough said she received a phone call last week from a resident, who told her she had found the eight-foot elf.
“I said we don’t have a big elf, you must be talking about the one on the advertising banners,” Cr McCullough said.
“Then she sent us a photo and sure enough, it was the big elf that had been missing since 2014, when we first did Christmas in Elfenbrook!
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Saturday will mark the first Christmas event in Ellenbrook entirely run by local community volunteers, thanks to the establishment of the Ellenbrook Community Collective, which Cr McCullough has been instrumental in organising.
“We’re hoping for about 7000 people to attend,” she said.
“Last year we had 4500, so we’re hoping to build on that.”
The event will feature 100 market stalls.
“We’ve taken out a food vendor’s licence, which will allow the local vendors to come out on to Main Street and set up tables and chairs,” she said.
“This means they can actually have a good day, rather than being swallowed up in the sea of people.”
Community group stalls, rides, entertainment from local community groups and artists, displays, cooking demonstrations and cultural presentations are also on offer.
Four bouncy castles will be set up, with a gold coin donation to enter.
Proceeds from two of the castles will go towards the medical costs for local toddler Kai Nell, who is fighting acute myeloid leukaemia.
The Christmas pageant will begin at 4pm and will include about 40 participant groups from the Ellenbrook and its surrounds, including local sporting clubs, dance companies and businesses.
Local entertainers The Fisher Boys, who were finalists on last year’s The X Factor, will conclude the day with a one-hour performance after the pageant.
“The four Fisher Boys are fantastic,” Cr McCullough said.
“They are entertaining for all ages, and will top off what should be a fun, family-friendly, low-cost day out.”
Christmas in Elfenbrook is this Saturday on Main Street, Ellenbrook, from noon to 6pm.
For more information about the pageant, email collectivepageant@|gmail.com.