Out and About - Winter 2021

Out & About leisure

WHAT’S ON A round up of seasonal events across the district this winter, from Christmas lights switch on to gift markets to village quizzes

Saturday, November 20 Christmas Lights Switch On, Newbury, 10am-5pm A day-long festival, including more than 20 free workshops and extra entertainment. 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. Free family activities include cookie decorating, Christmas wreath making, character meet and greets, and pop-up choirs. Candlelit Winter Market, Hampstead Norreys Community Shop, 3.30pm-7.30pm More than 40 different stalls, with local crafts and gifts as well as food. Free entry, everyone welcome. Quiz & Pasty evening,Portal Hall, Burghclere, 6.30pm Fun evening of quizzing. Up to six in a team. Prizes, bar, raffle and pasty supper. £6 per person. All proceeds to Burghclere church maintenance. Tickets burghclere.church/quiz. Sunday, November 21 Vegan Christmas Market, Market Place, Newbury, 10am-3pm 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 beyond.

The Sphere lights up Parkway Shopping

Coles Christmas Market, Arlington Arts Centre, 2pm-4pm. Organised by Coles Diner: The Youth Club. Showcasing local stall holders selling a range of gifts, crafts, stocking fillers and treats for the festive season. Christmas Market, Douai Pavilion, Upper Woolhampton, 10am-4.30pm. Stalls, Santa’s grotto, refreshments. Entry £2. Raising funds for Naomi House and Douai Park Charities. Newtown Common Working Party, Meeting place: opposite Post Box on B4640 at 10AM for briefing 10am-12noon. Working Party hosted by Newtown Common Management Committee. Clearance of small scrub on the south side of Newtown Grange driveway. Bring your own loppers or secateurs and gardening gloves (No Power Tools). Clearing scrub etc - not heavy work. Free refreshments. Please observe Social Distancing even outdoors.

Thorngrove School Christmas Fayrre, Highclere, 12noon-5pm. Refreshments and gifts. Entry £3 for adults. Children free. Pottery Painting Afternoon, Downs School, Compton, 2.30pm-4.30pm. Organised by the Friends of Downs, an afternoon of pottery painting with Blue Beetle Ceramics. £15 per person. To book a place email bluebeetleceamicscafe@gmail.com Children welcome. Spring bulb planting, Old Hospital Green & City Recreation Ground, Andover Road, 10am-2pm. Come and along and help plant bulbs, in support of the Puple4Polio intitiative created by the Rotary Club of Great Britain.

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O&A WINTER 2021