REINDEER, donkeys, an Artisans’ Christmas Market, fairground rides, skating rink, music and entertainment, and of course visits from Santa and his elves – all made for an exciting Christmas ‘Street Events Day’ for all the family on Saturday, as this year’s successful ‘Christmas in Westbury’ programme continues.
The chance to meet the reindeer and donkeys was a new attraction this year, which proved very popular with visitors. Cllr Christine Mitchell, chair of the Christmas in Westbury working group said, “I think people really enjoyed the day, especially the reindeers and the donkeys which the children loved.” Westbury Mayor cllr David Windess said, “It was very good, although very cold! I think the reindeer were a big hit.”
Christmas in Westbury
While residents may enjoy the Christmas programme in the weeks before Christmas, it is a year-long activity for a dedicated group on the town council, who put on many of the events and collate activities going on in and around the town into the ‘Christmas in Westbury’ booklet. Now in its sixth year, firm annual favourites include the Christmas lights switch on, the street events day, outdoor carol service, children’s Christmas party, and the Christmas Tree Festival which is organised by All Saints Church in Westbury.
Westbury’s Mayor says he would struggle to pick out his favourite event, but does have his highlights. “I did enjoy the lights switch on,” he said. “I opened up the Christmas Tree Festival on Friday night [9th December], where they had the ukulele group from Westbury Juniors and Bratton Silver Band and that was absolutely fantastic, and it was beautiful to see all the Christmas trees there.”
Cllr Christine Mitchell, chair of the town council’s working group explained, “When we do the booklet we always try to get everyone to put their events in. It’s always proved to be very popular, people actually like to keep them as well. It’s an all-year thing for us! After Christmas the working group will meet and have a debrief where we get everyone who has been involved together and look at what was good and what we can improve on. We’ve got to book a lot of people early in the year so we look at putting the programme together early on.”
Christmas in Westbury continues in the last 10 days before Christmas, with the following:-
Friday 16 December
• Christmas Rhyme Time, Westbury Library, 11.00am-11.30am. For 0-3 year olds and their parent/carer. FREE event. Wear something Christmassy! Tel:01373-822294
• Christmas Tree Festival, All Saints Church, 5-8pm
• Outdoor Carol Service, Market Place, 6.00pm-7.00pm.
(All Saints’ if wet). Choirs & Festive music, Santa and his sleigh!
• Youth Event at Westbury Youth and Development Centre, 7.30-10.30pm. For people aged 11 – 17 years, Karaoke, disco, film, light buffet and non-alcoholic drinks. Contact Sally Willox on tel no. 822335. Free.
Saturday 17 December
• Christmas Tree Festival, All Saints Church
• Choral Society Christmas Concert, Methodist Church, 7.30pm
Sunday 18 December
• The start of Christmas church services in and around Westbury. See xxx for details.
