Everything is all set for the Midsomer Norton Christmas event tonight (Friday, 4th December) in the Hollies Gardens and lower High Street.
The organisers, the Somer Valley Chamber and Churches Together, will be closing the lower High Street between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. from Martins to just before the exit from Sainsbury’s, with a diversion around South Road, as in previous years. Cars will still be able to exit from Sainsbury’s car park onto the High Street. Stop go signing at the junction of South Road and Silver Street, along with manual control of the traffic lights outside of the Town Hall has been arranged in order to keep congestion at the Friday rush hour peak to a minimum.
The road closure will allow plenty of space for Community and Crafters’ stalls selling Christmas gifts and also promoting local groups. Stall holders will be able to benefit from the market umbrellas funded by Midsomer Norton Town Council, who are also sponsoring the event overall. The Hollies Gardens will be the main centre of activities, beginning with a Christmas Sing Along from 6.15 p.m. Father Christmas is expected to drop in from his busy schedule to join in the singing, which will be led by school choirs.
Throughout the evening, there will be lots to see and do to get into the festive mood. Music for the event is being provided by a contemporary band, as well as the Bath Spa Band, who will be playing a range of traditional Christmas Carols, as free mince pies and fruit punch are served. There will be a giant ‘Pass the Parcel’, which everyone can join in with and people attending are being asked to add to the fun of the evening by wearing their favourite Christmas jumper – even the Mayor will be wearing his!
Then, at around 7.15 p.m., the now traditional Christmas Lights Switch-on, with the town’s Carnival Royalty assisting the Mayor of Midsomer Norton and Chair of Bath and North East Somerset.
Thanks must go to all those who have worked over the last four months to organise the event for the town: namely the Somer Valley Chamber, Midsomer Norton Churches Together, the Midsomer Norton Community Trust and The Midsomer Norton and District Carnival Association.
For further details, please visit www.MidsomerNorton CommunityTrust.co.uk or ring: 01761 419133.
Radstock will be holding its day of Christmas activities tomorrow (Saturday, 5th December) – events begin from 11 a.m. with activities running through the town until the Christmas Light Switch-on at 4 p.m. There will be a Christmas Tree Festival, a Lantern Parade, a giant bouncy snowman, pom-pom making at Victoria Hall, street performers and community stalls. There will also be stories in the library and a shop window competition hosted by the traders.
The Lantern Parade will start at 4 p.m. from Victoria Hall, please gather from 3.40 p.m.
Radstock Museum’s Christmas Fayre will also be running from 10 a.m. on the day. A Community Carol Service takes place on Sunday at Trinity Methodist Church at 6 p.m., closing the Christmas Tree Festival.