When do you start thinking about Christmas? After Labour Weekend? After Guy Fawkes? Christmas Eve?

Jennifer Murray has not only been thinking about Christmas since June, she's been feverishly working towards it.

Jen is the driving force behind The 12 Days of Christmas, a new family-friendly festival running at the Historic Village from December 13-24.

Launching with a Street Party on Tuesday, December 13, and closing with the Historic Village Markets on Christmas Eve, other events include Christmas Stories and Songs, a Puzzle Trail, Celebrations around the World, Decorate a Wheel Barrow, Dance-a-thon, and more.

'The festival is for the community, by the community,” says Jen.

'A lot of people have good, strong feelings about the Historic Village. It's a great opportunity to get involved, regardless of their skills and talents. We can find something to do for everyone who puts their hand up.”

A team from The Historic Village People, a loose collection of village retailers and tenants, has been planning the event for months. 'We use the strengths of the people involved, so we'll be able to have different activities happening.”

Every event will be linked to Village tenants. 'Opening night, for example, will be linked to the opening of exhibitions at The Incubator and Multicultural Tauranga. '

With village tenants including artists, weavers, up-cyclers, carpenters and crafts people, you can bet the Festival will be as exciting as it is creative and environmentally friendly.

'There is a cohesive social conscience about the tenancies that binds us together. Lots of what we are doing is about reusing, recycling, and DIY.”

Jen is looking for dancers, singers, bands, creative people and general volunteers who are keen to take part in getting the festival ready.

'A lot of the Christmas events around Tauranga are fun to take the kids to, but we want to give people the chance to be involved in creating the event, and to give them a sense of ownership. I think we're unique in that respect.”

Aside from wanting performers, Jen is holding workshops for people to make Christmas decorations to display at the Village throughout the Festival. The first workshops are on next Tuesday, October 25 at 11am, and Wednesday, October 26 at 5.30pm, at the Historic Village.

For details, contact Jen on 021 672 281 or look for The Historic Village People on Facebook