CHRISTMAS BOOK FAIR
29th & 30th November 2025
The Christmas Book Fair was held in November at the Helensville A&P Showgrounds in conjunction with South Kaipara Good Food (SKGF). A brilliant couple of days, with the Santa Parade on Saturday. The weather holding until the afternoon on Sunday, when the heavens opened. Book sales were slightly down on the May Book Fair, totalled $12,180 and with the raffles, and BBQ trailer takings yet to come, still a very satisfactory result. After expenses the total will be shared with SKGF to tide them over the holiday period when demand for assistance reaches its peak. The remainder will be deposited into the Lions Club of Helensville Charitable Trust and used to help the many individuals and organisations in our community who are in the need of assistance.
Thank you to all who donated so many high-quality books, without you it would not have been possible to hold the event. Many thanks to the students from Kaipara College and volunteers from SKGF who helped in the set up on Friday. Also, the Friends of Lions and family members who assisted in packing up and cleaning the Hall on Sunday. Putting together a book fair is an all-round team effort and we would not be able to do it without the assistance we receive from our community, especially the Helensville A&P Show who gave us the unlimited use of their facilities for the lead up to the weekend. A special thanks to Burmester Realty for letting us use their premises as a drop off point, and to Chris Smith who has given us the use of his shed where the books are sorted and stored.
The books left over will be re-sorted with damaged or unsaleable books going to the Helensville Recycle Centre. Surplus children’s books are distributed to Play-centres and Kindergartens. Other books are sold at the Lions book stall at the Village Market, which is held on the third Sunday of each month at the Helensville A&P Showgrounds.
The next Book Fair is our Autumn Book Fair which will be held on the last weekend of May Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st.
As a service to the community the Helensville Lions will accept books throughout the year. Small amounts can be left with Burmester Realty, Commercial Road, Helensville, larger amounts can be delivered to our shed on a Tuesday afternoon between 1pm and 3pm. The shed is situated behind the Gull petrol station in Mill Road, Helensville. Otherwise, contact Chris at 027 646 3324 or any other member of the Lions Club of Helensville.
