Wrington Dickensian Christmas Fayre & Lantern Parade
The annual Dickensian Christmas Fayre is where the community of Wrington and visitors to the village come together to enjoy an evening of entertainment from bands, choirs and actors and indulge themselves in buying gifts for Christmas from a range of local artisans and businesses. A range of drinks and food are available to buy and take home or consume on the night. Make sure you have the date in your diary and come on down with all your friends and family for a great night out. The Fayre ir preceded by the community Lantern Parade where local families young and old display their latest home made paper lanterns. Its really magical and not to be missed, weather permitting.
This year’s Wrington Dickensian Fayre will take place on Saturday 6th December at The Plough. We’ve changed it from Fridays to make it easier for everyone to attend and enjoy, especially those who work and have young families.
We are currently putting the finishing touches to the evening, but we expect the lantern parade to start about 5.30pm and switching on of the Christmas tree lights to take place at around 6pm with the Fayre officially opening at 6.30pm and ending at 9pm, at which point there will be a chance for us all to retire to The Plough to hear who are the winners of the raffle and enjoy a traditional festive singalong.
We are a non-profit making group, so any surplus monies are donated to local charities and groups. These previously included Yeo Explorer Scouts, Wrington CofE Primary School, Wrington Minibus and various Wrington Charities.
Each year we strive to make it bigger and better, whilst at the same time ensuring that it fully reflects our wonderful community. So, this year we are introducing our ‘Wrington Independent Businesses Trail’ to promote those businesses along Broad and High Street who work tirelessly to ensure that we have the village services we so much need.
Those joining us in this initiative include Mother Hen; Jack the Barber; Amors; The Golden Lion who are also having a pig roast and Shanty Singers; Melluish & Morrow and Spar. Please do call in and support these businesses as well as popping into the Fayre itself.
As usual, weather permitting, the Fayre will be preceded by the wonderful Community Lantern Parade, organised by a separate group of volunteers led by Jo Sinclair and Amy Shiner. Local parents and children, many of whom will have attended lantern making workshops, will walk through the village displaying their lanterns, starting at The Recreation Ground and ending up at the village green in front of The Plough public house and then display their lanterns around the Fayre.
Prior to the Fayre’s official opening, Deborah Yamanaka, the Chair of Wrington Parish Council, who kindly provide the village Christmas Tree and Christmas Tree lights, will officially turn them on.
As has happened in previous years we are hoping the local Wrington Church of England Primary School choir will then sing some carols around the tree, supported by their parents and other visitors.
The Lantern Parade, subject to good weather conditions, will then process from the front of The Plough to the back of the Plough.
We are expecting around 25 plus festive stalls to come together for the evening under their floodlit gazebos around the back of The Plough.
They will be providing food to eat, food to give as presents, drinks, Christmas floristry and a wide range of craft stalls providing Christmas gifts. Many of them will be showcasing local talent. If you are a local hobbyist that makes gifts for sale then please contact us and ask to have a stall.
There will be a covered performance area in which we hope a local brass band, singers and others will perform for an expected audience of up to 500 adults and children.
We are encouraging everyone to get “Dickensian”. So, enter into the spirit of things and go Dickensian on the night – top hats, flat caps, capes and dresses. The more the merrier!
We raise funds to cover our costs through stallholder fees, the Grand Raffle and a 59 Club which this year is being kindly arranged by Kaila at The Plough. Sponsors also cover some of our costs, for which we are very grateful.
Previous year’s sponsors and supporters have included Punch & The Plough; Trug Flowers & Gardens, Travis Perkins Building Supplies, David James Estate Agents, Double Tree by Hilton Hotel (Cadbury House), Alvis/Lye Cross Farm, Laura Joyce Wealth Management, Butcombe, Thatchers, Twisted Oak, Wrington Adult & Junior Drama Clubs and all the stall holders, performers and Fayre Team. If you are interested in sponsoring us or providing prizes for the raffle please get in contact with us.
We rely on your support to ensure that the Fayre can take place each year so please come along on the night, and have a great time!
The Wrington Dickensian Fayre team are made up of a small team of volunteers but additional team members; and helpers on the night, are always welcome. If you require further information, please contact Ian Harries on Tel: 07900 583921 or Email ian.harries0@icloud.com
