The cherished Mt Lawley Christmas Fete has been abruptly cancelled just weeks before the summer holidays, leaving thousands of Perth families without their annual festive tradition. Organisers confirmed the devastating news on Monday night, citing a severe funding reduction and escalating operational costs as the cause.
Funding Slashed and Costs Soar
In a heartfelt statement, the event's organisers expressed they were "incredibly saddened" to make the call. The decision was forced by a perfect storm of financial pressures: a 30 per cent decrease in funding from the City of Stirling's Grants Program, coupled with significantly increased costs to deliver the completely free community celebration.
"With a 30 per cent decrease in funding, changes to the City’s Grant Program and increased costs to deliver a completely free event, we didn’t have enough time to deliver the kind of event the community deserves," the statement read. The cancellation brings an end to an eight-year run of festive lights, markets, and family entertainment that had become a cornerstone of the local Christmas calendar.
A Community Staple Lost
Reverend Father Steven from St Patrick’s Mt Lawley, who has overseen the fete since its inception, detailed the immense logistical challenges. The event was launched eight years ago to fill the void left by the Beaufort Street Festival, with the church aiming to keep the Christmas spirit alive.
"It has always been a long and complex process," Father Steven said, noting that applications typically required six months of preparation from April-July. He highlighted that as a church-run event, it was automatically classified as high-risk, necessitating extensive and costly compliance measures. The parish never generated a profit, running the festival purely as a gift to the community.
The online announcement triggered an outpouring of grief and support from devastated locals. One commenter thanked organisers for their efforts, while another expressed understanding for the "huge amount of work and volunteer hours involved."
Part of a Wider Trend for Stirling Events
The Mt Lawley Christmas Fete is not an isolated casualty. Its cancellation follows the recent axing of another major Stirling community event, the Inglewood Night Markets. That Monday night staple was scrapped in November after a decade, with organisers also blaming a major funding blow—a 40 per cent grant cut—and soaring costs.
Both events fall under the City of Stirling's events portfolio, and their loss is a double blow for residents, small traders, and food truck operators who relied on them. The cancellations disrupt long-held family routines and remove vital foot traffic that supported local businesses.
Despite the setback, Father Steven remains hopeful the Christmas Fete can be revived in future years. The City of Stirling has been approached for comment by PerthNow.
