Full line-up of Christmas events in Bury St Edmunds is revealed
With the festive season on the horizon the full line-up of Christmas events in Bury St Edmunds has been revealed.
The festivities kick off on November 17, when the Our Bury St Edmunds Christmas lights event will illuminate the town from 3-8pm.
Live on-stage entertainment will return for the first time in three years, along with the annual charity market, street entertainment, food stalls and a funfair.
There will be an opportunity to meet Father Christmas on his sleigh, while final arrangements are being made for a popular television character to also attend.
Then, from November 17-20, a spectacular light show for St Edmund’s Day weekend will see sound and light projections on to the Norman Tower and St Edmundsbury Cathedral, as part of the Abbey 1000 celebrations.
Tickets cost £3 and can be booked online at www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk
From November 24 there will be five days of Christmas events organised by the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds Partnership.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral will hold its free Christmas market from November 24-26.
In addition to the shopping experience there will be entertainment – including a special guest for children and families – Inka the Polar Bear – performing at noon, 2pm and 3pm on November 26.
Special tower tours will be running during the market, with booking at eventbrite.com/e/christmas-market-tower-tour-tickets-444614543067
Tours cost £15 and include seasonal refreshments.
A Christmas market will also be at the arc shopping centre from November 24-December 22, with festive cabins in Charter Square and visiting traders offering Christmas treats and gifts as well as festive food and drink.
From November 25-27 there will be a gift fair at the Apex with more than 50 local arts, crafts and gifts stalls, while upstairs there will be Christmas storytelling.
The free gift fair will be open 10am-6pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.
Bury’s weekly Saturday market will have a Dickensian feel on November 26 with street entertainers, music and more – look out for Scrooge, the Artful Dodger and Victorian gentlemen riding their Penny Farthings.
Meanwhile, a winter beer festival is at Guildhall Street’s Constitutional Club from November 25-27 – entry is free from 3-11pm on November 25, noon-11pm on November 26 and 3-10pm on November 27.
From December 3-24, children will have the chance to find Santa Claus at the arc shopping centre with 20-minute performances of Where’s Santa in a magical Nordic Christmas cabin.
Aimed at children aged two-seven, tickets cost £8 for one child and one adults and can be booked at www.theatreroyal.org
On December 4, the Buttermarket and Cornhill will host the final makers market of the year from 10am-4pm, with more than 70 makers, bakers, brewers, artists and traders.
Then, on December 11, the final farmers’ market of the year will be in the town centre.
The traditional Christmas Eve street market will be in the Buttermarket and Cornhill from 9am-2pm.
This year’s Theatre Royal pantomime is The Legend of Robin Hood, running from November 25 until January 14 – book online at www.theatreroyal.org – or, for something a bit different, a new Christmas escape room experience will offer fun for the family at The Evidence Room, in Risbygate Street, throughout November and December – book online at www.evidenceroom.co.uk
The Ickworth Estate will be transformed by colour and light for its Light Nights event from November 11-December 27, with tickets starting at £11 adults and £9 children aged five-17 (under fives free) – book at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/whats-on
Over at Blackthorpe Barn, in Rougham, there will be six weekends of arts and crafts stalls to browse from November 12 until December 18 as part of the Christmas at Blackthorpe Barn Festival. Entry costs £3 per person – for more information, go to www.blackthorpebarn.com
Experience Christmas in a slower age at Kentwell Hall’s Dickensian Christmas, in Long Melford, on December 10, 11, 17 and 18.
Meet costumed characters from the bygone era, listen to readings from A Christmas Carol and sing carols round the Christmas tree at dusk. Tickets can be booked online at www.kentwell.co.uk/events/dickensian-christmas
For more details about the festive season in Bury, go to www.christmasinburystedmunds.co.uk