THE world record Christmas lights display in Petrie Plaza has raised more than $300,000 for SIDS and Kids ACT.

Close to 210,000 people passed through the gates during the month-long event held in Civic.

SIDS and Kids ACT CEO Nathalie Maconachie, says she’s delighted with the support.

“I’m so grateful to the Canberra community and I’m thrilled with the number of people who travelled far and wide to witness this magical display,” says Nathalie.

“Our organisation is now in a position to grow our services and continue our world-class education program – we can’t thank the community enough,” she says.

Canberra CBD Limited CEO Jane Easthope agrees that the light display was a wonderful addition to Canberra’s City centre.

“It was great to see so many people drawn to the City for this spectacular event,” says Jane.

It is estimated visitors spent just shy of $8 million in Canberra’s CBD on food, accommodation, transport and other supporting services, while just over $800,000 was spent on similar services outside of the CBD in order to participate in Christmas in the City.

Most visitors were from the ACT at 78%, with 8.5% from New South Wales and the remainder from Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and several claimed residency overseas.

Canberra CBD Limited is committed to a three-year partnership to ensure the light display continues in the City until Christmas 2016. Plans are currently underway for the 2015 display, which organisers hope will be even bigger and better.

The SIDS and Kids ACT Christmas Lights in the City featured 1,194,380 lights and broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the world’s largest LED light image display.

[Photos by John Griffiths]