SALE streets were lined with Christmas cheer at the weekend with the return of the Wellington Business Association Christmas parade.

Cancelled last year, the parade made its way down Raymond St to Brennan Park because of the closure of the Sale pedestrian mall for renovation work.

People emerged from shops, camera phones in hand, as a Longford fire truck cleared the path for Sale City Band to lead the show, walking in formation as passers-by stood on tables and chairs to get photos.

Before the parade had even begun, people wandered into the St Columba's Uniting Church car park to get a sneak peek.

A group of St Paul's Anglican Cathedral parishioners, dressed for a nativity scene, walked away with the title of best group in the parade.

Another favourite, Sale City Rollers, who participated in running a cake stall at Brennan Park after the display, received whoops and cheers from family and friends in the crowd as they skated their way down the street, followed by hot rods.

In a sea of black and white, representatives of Sale Football-Netball Club displayed its many end of season trophies in a show of the club's success, waving to people as they passed.

Dogs from the East Gippsland Dog Obedience Club joined their owners in the march, delighting children, while Sale Scouts and Cubs handed out lollies like good little elves.

Scouts were among the children who ran up to Santa as he arrived at Brennan Park on the back of a Sale fire truck, queuing up alongside others outside a gazebo where Santa listened to everyone's Christmas wishes.

Sale City Band members warm up to play bear themed songs

IT was a beautiful day for a bear hunt, as parents and children alike flocked to Sale's botanical gardens for the Teddy Bears' Picnic on Wednesday March 6.

So popular, the day ran into two sessions, the first from 10am to llam, the second from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

Students from Sale's St Thomas' primary school and Gippsland Grammar's prep class joined in the festivities, each child bringing with them their own bear, or stuffed toy, with a few dinosaurs and lions along for the ride.

The children danced and sang along to bear themed tunes as Wellington Shire council staff led the way around the garden, and, with the help of parents and teachers, located the stuffed teddy bears hiding in the garden.

Staff from the Sale Community Library were on hand for special story time on the grass, to everyone's' enjoyment.

The day wasn't just for the young, it was for the young at heart too, with Woodford Gables' Margaret Crosley and her teddy bear, enjoying the show.

THE Sale City Band will travel to Ballarat on the weekend to compete in the Victoria Brass Band Championships. The championships are part of the prestigious Royal South Street Eisteddfod. Sale City Band last competed in this competition in 2009, when it won its division.

The band members have been working hard under the direction of Hugh Davies and Caroline Monck with four musical pieces required for the event. The band is hopeful of a good result again this year.

The band practices every Monday evening in the Foster St band rooms and new players are always welcome.

THE Sale City Band travelled to Ballarat recently to compete at the Royal South Street Eisteddfod.

The band came second in the D grade section of the Victonan Band League State Championships. The Sale band was two pomts behind th City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band.

The seven performing bands each prepared four selections and each piece was adjudicatcd separately.

Sale came first with the hymn tune and equal first for the major work.

Dave Rebecchl played a brilliant New Orleans styled jazz solo in  Just a Closer Wakk With Thee.

Other soloists included Louise Mowat on flugelhorn and Tom Cousin on cornet.

The band is preparing for the Traralgon Eisteddfod.

The annual concert at the Wellington Entertainment Centre is scheduled for Sunday November 10 with a Remembrance Day theme being planned.