Dickens of a Week-end

 

Date:   16 October 2001

 

 

Christchurch Celebrates a 'Dickens of a Week-end': Friday 7th December to Sunday 9th December

 

Local business have launched plans to revamp Christmas celebrations in Christchurch this year, making it one of the liveliest places to be on the South Coast. Spearheaded by Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce in conjunction with Christchurch Borough Council and Christchurch Tourism Association. Local organisers are giving Christmas festivities a completely new look, which will include the amalgamation of the annual Snow Queen Procession and the late night evening opening into one glorious weekend. With major support coming from the Institute of Commercial Management and Peeks the Event Makers.

 

Aimed at having something to appeal to everyone in the Borough ,the events will start on Friday at 12 noon with the arrival of the popular French traders from the twin town of St Lô. They will be setting up their stalls in Saxon Square and trading until mid evening and throughout Saturday, enabling residents and visitors to stock up with popular French cheeses, olives and garlic for Christmas, as well as other Festive wares. Additional food stalls from local traders and charities will be setting up stalls along the High Street, to date these include a Hog Roast, Candy Floss, Oysters and Hot Chestnuts. The third Christchurch Scout Group will be raising funds though the sale of soup, hot dogs and burgers.

 

At 5.30pm local children, the Mayor and her escort together with the Snow Queen and no less than ten Snow Queen Princesses will parade through the town in a torchlight procession to the Mayors Parlour. On arrival the Christmas Tree lights will be turned on and there will be a small fireworks display launched from the top of the Priory Tower. This is being sponsored by Peeks the event Makers. They will be joined throughout the evening by local choirs and musicians who will entertain shoppers. Local shops will remain open until around 9.00pm and the evening will culminate in community Carol singing in Church Street, with a service led by Rev Hugh Williams from the Priory and the Rev Clive Bernard from the Baptist Church. This will be accompanied by the Christchurch and Highcliffe Silver Band and recorded to be played at Christchurch hospital.

 

Throughout Saturday musicians and children's entertainers will perform throughout the town, while the French traders and local shops tempt the crowds with ideas for Christmas presents.

 

On Sunday at 3pm, a completely revamped '171 Snow Queen Procession' will wend its way from Bargates through the High Street and Bridge Street towards Somerford, passing the Mayors Parlour. Designed to be for the enjoyment and benefit of young people this is being organised in conjunction with 171 (Christchurch Squadron) of the Air training Corps. With financial support from the locally based firm ICM, cash prizes of £250 each will be offered for the three best floats in various categories, while street entertainment will keep the children occupied until the procession arrives. Roast chestnuts, a hog roast stand and mulled wine will be on hand to warm everyone together with local cafés who will staying open to offer light meals and hot drinks. A street collection will be made for various youth charities in the town including the Lighthouse and Air Training Corps.

 

And of course on Monday Christchurch's own very popular Street Market will be back as usual in High Street to round off a real "Dickens of a Weekend".