CHRISTMAS is coming to Westbury this weekend and the annual Christmas Tree Festival will be held at All Saints Church from Thursday to Sunday.
This year’s festival will be the tenth anniversary of the event and Antiques Roadshow expert, Marc Allum, will officially open the four-day display on Friday 2nd December at 6.30pm. Entry is free and there will be around 50 trees on show, decorated by local groups and businesses, as well as refreshments, live music and Christmas stalls.
Roy Inwood, organiser for eight years said, “The festival is very popular and we’re expecting hundreds of visitors. The trees look pretty spectacular all lit up, and people enjoy voting for their favourites. It’s a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.”
The church will be open from 6pm to 8.30pm on Thursday 1st December; 10am to 8.30pm on Friday; 10am to 7.30pm on Saturday; and 11am to 4pm on Sunday.
Live entertainment will include Westbury Junior School’s ukelele band at 6.30pm on Thursday; Matravers School Choir and pianist Vincent Ling from 6.40pm on Friday; Westbury Ukelele Group and Hilperton Recorders from 12.30pm on Saturday; and on Sunday there will be ‘Stories in the Stable’ from 2pm and a Christingle service at 4pm.
There will also be sessions on Friday and Saturday evening – in the final half-hour of opening – when all lights in the church will be turned off except the fairy lights on the trees.
Organiser Sharon Jones said, “We are really grateful to all those who will be performing and to Marc Allum for kindly agreeing to open the festival.
“We would like to thank local businesses who have supported the event with prizes including Elliotts Butchers, Davies Hardware, Co-op Funeralcare, Bath Bakery, Chalford House Hotel, Cinnamon Lounge, The Hair Company and The Prince of Wales.”
