Christmas Guide 2021

5

Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, November 11, 2021

CHRISTMAS GUIDE 2021 Events galore in Newbury this Christmas

CHRISTMAS in Newbury this year is set to be one to remember, with a huge range of events lined up for the whole family to enjoy. Newbury’s annual Christmas Lights Switch-On is being extended into a day-long festival, including more than 20 free workshops and extra entertainment for the first time this year. On Saturday, November 20, local families and residents are invited to come and spend the day in Newbury town centre for a whole host of festive fun. Between 10am and 5pm, visitors can enjoy a full programme of free festive activities at select venues across the town centre. From 5pm, live entertainment and performances will occupy a screened stage in the Market Place in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Christmas Lights Switch-On. Frozen ice-queen sisters will be on stage to ‘let it go’ post switch-on and the live music and performances will continue until 9pm. Newbury BID, the not-for- profit organisation behind the Visit Newbury brand, is confident that the day’s programme of free family activities, including cookie decorating, Christmas wreath making, character meet and greets, and pop-up choirs, will help enhance Newbury’s festive offering more so than ever before. It will be even stronger if you take into account the recently announced three-day Victorian Christmas Fayre. Taking place across the first weekend of December, Newbury’s first Victorian Christmas Fayre will include a wide range of market stalls with traders dressed head- to-toe in typical Victorian attire, alongside Victorian- themed roving performers, a Victorian carousel, live music and entertainment and, of course, Father Christmas, helping to make this a truly unforgettable event for Newbury. The event will take place between 10am and 8pm on Friday and Saturday, December 3 and 4, with an earlier finish time of 5pm on the final day of the event on Sunday, December 5. Newbury BID’s Operations Manager, Alison Drummond, said: “Our Victorian delivering in partnership with LSD Promotions, and this is arguably the most exciting yet! Christmas Fayre is yet another event we are “We are so thankful to Newbury Town Council, West Berkshire Council, the Corn Exchange, and our town centre businesses for working in partnership with us to make this a possibility and we simply cannot wait to make it happen. “It’s always been a priority for us at the BID to deliver events that benefit the town centre, and we are confident that this event will help to develop Newbury as a Christmas destination. “Our aim is to draw extra

The Lantern procession

Picture: Adam Hillier

Left and above, Newbury town centre lit up

Picture: Edward Balch

beyond! The ‘12 Days of Newbury’ campaign is organised by Newbury BID and supported by the Welcome Back Fund via ERDF, to support town centre recovery and the safe return to our high streets following the pandemic. One highlight of the campaign is Newbury’s first-ever TV

Boasting mulled wine stalls, vegan cheese boards and ‘meat’ platters, there’s plenty of festive food to get stuck into, alongside handmade and local artisan crafts and produce. While you’re there, pick-up a Newbury Vegan Trail Map to explore all things green and clean this Christmas and

advert, which launched across Sky TV and Virgin Media in October. You can watch the TV advert online and find out more information on all the above events (and many more!) by visiting the campaign’s webpage: www.12DaysofNewbury.com

visitors into Newbury not only during the three-day event, but throughout the Christmas period, encouraging them to shop local for their Christmas gifts and enjoy the local hospitality for their Christmas parties

and gatherings!” Going eco-friendly and cruelty-free with your

Christmas gifts this year? On Sunday, November 21, don’t miss Newbury’s Vegan Christmas Market.