The initial reaction was shock and awe. The dancing left some new arrivals bewildered and others amused. Others looked very uncomfortable. The two koalas were a complete surprise, as was the festive atmosphere and the loud music. Not everyone looked like they wanted to have a party. However, they had signed up for three days, it was clearly ‘party time’ and the visual cues of childhood (including the cakes and treats) helped them join in. Discomfort can be a very positive emotion to have in community engagement. Spontaneity can be very valuable: it immediately works to dislodge and disrupt old ways of doing things and to invite new responses.