It was a remarkable day at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 1 when thousands of excited children enjoyed the annual Variety Children’s Christmas Party for special needs children.
Hosted by Variety - the Children’s Charity ambassadors Blair McDonough and Pete Lazer, more than 4000 children and their carers from across Victoria were treated to a day they will never forget.
As well as a visit from Santa, there was entertainment, interactive displays and workshops, food, showbags, petting zoos, face painting, carnival rides and more to make it a very 
special day.
While awaiting Santa’s arrival and all the Christmas presents, guests were entertained by Humphrey B Bear, performers from the Kylie Show, a spectacular magic show by Cath Jamieson and the Variety Performance Group singing many of the popular Christmas carols.
Many children enjoyed the space in front of the stage to sing, dance and move with the music – with some budding performers even walking on to the stage to enjoy the limelight.
Among the most popular activities was the rock climbing and abseiling wall, where many cheers from onlookers could be heard from around the party.
The basketball and fencing areas, where children had the opportunity to learn some new skills and be coached by professionals were similarly busy.
The Police, Ambulance and MFB bought their interactive displays while sporting and community groups including Auskick, Victorian Rugby Union, Special Olympics, Basketball Victoria, Bluearth and Life Education ran fun workshops.
There were activities, food and show bags as far as the eye could see with petting zoos, underwater touch tanks, face painting and carnival rides catering for children of all abilities. 
Also among the activities was a Liberty Swing, brought in especially for the event. Liberty Swings are donated to communities so children in wheelchairs or with various physical impairments can feel the joy of swinging – a simple pleasure that other children can often take for granted.
Watching the excitement and delight on the faces of these children was a highlight of the day for many.
Despite moderate temperatures, ice cream was a popular choice for many children as they took a break from the many activities available.
While some faces were coated with ice cream, others were transformed in to fairies, animals, brightly coloured clowns and more by the talented team of face painters.
The tall stilt walkers had many followers, especially children attempting to pop the stream of bubbles surrounding them.
Thrilling carnival rides and a giant slide were particularly popular among the older children and larger school groups whose loud screams punctuated the air.
Animals were a vital part of the day, with a roving poodle show impressing the crowd. Snake handlers were on site for the braver children keen to get a closer look at the slithering creatures.
Puppies destined for police dog training accompanied roaming police officers and were the focus of much attention from many of the younger children, particularly those with special needs, who made the most of their chance to touch the soft fur and get close to the playful pups.
Characters from Looney Tunes, Happy Feet and Life Education’s giraffe mascot, Healthy Harold made many new friends at the event and for some children, simply touching and receiving a hug from these characters was the highlight of their day.
When Santa and his reindeers arrived with presents for all the children there were huge smiles and some tears as for many it will be the only Christmas gift they receive this year.
This annual event enriches the lives of many Victorian children and highlights the importance of Variety, the children’s charity and its generous sponsors, suppliers, entertainers and volunteers to the community.