If you feel you could help in anyway or you would like to sponsor the event please do get in touch.


Since 2010 our event has provided festive fun for everyone as well as encouraging local shopping with late-night opening. Highlights have always been the children’s lantern parade and community carol singing in the Market Place, market stalls in the streets, Santa’s grotto in the Corn Exchange, live entertainment and fireworks or light displays.

We always need extra help, if you would like to help us please email


FATHER CHRISTMAS

Thank you to The Wax Removal & Hearing Care Centre for lending us their premises for our Father Christmas Grotto in 2024, we hope their move went well and they have a great year.

This year we hope to be back in the newly renovated Corn Exchange!

If anyone would like to volunteer to come and help create/decorate a magical grotto in 2025 please email us


The programme below is based on 2024 event and will be updated and changed when the organisers have confirmed the details.

6.00pm Mayor’s welcome & Christmas tree light switch on followed by Carol singing The Stour Valley Band will play and everyone can join in with carol singing – words are in the middle of the programme.

From 6.30pm Various local community groups provide entertainment

10.00pm Town centre roads re-open

More details to follow (there won’t be a laser display this year)


SPONSORS

We run the Festival using the surplus from previous year’s event and sponsorship from local businesses – A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM!

Hall & Woodhouse our main sponsor
Lesley Shand Funeral Service sponsoring the printing of the programmes
Chaffers sponsoring the printing of the banners
HK Law sponsoring the entertainment
Kens Kabs sponsor

If your business would like to sponsor the 2025 event please get in touch


STALLS

If you would like to express interest in having a stall at this event please go to our Stall Holders Page


LOCAL BUSINESSES

If any businesses would like to use pitches outside their premises for selling food and drink please let us know – we would prefer to offer locally made produce rather than have to get external stalls. If you are going to be open for the event it would be good to know so that we can make sure we don’t pitch stalls in front of your business.

We have a programme booklet produced and distributed on the evening that contains the programme of events, important information and the words for carol singing. There is an opportunity to advertise your business for the future events, please get in touch if you are interested.