Stowmarket’s Christmas Tree Festival to return to mark 20th anniversary at St Peter and St Mary's Church

Stowmarket’s 20th annual Christmas Tree Festival is set to brighten up St Peter’s and St Mary’s Church once again with 80 trees decorated by the town’s community.

In celebration of two decades of the much-loved event, the festival’s signature large tree will be decorated with china cups as porcelain is the traditional wedding gift to mark 20 years.

The trees, following this year’s theme of Hope, Peace and Love, have each been decorated by different groups in or connected to Stowmarket, including schools, care homes, businesses and families to fill the church with festive charm.

The festival kicks off with the switch-on ceremony on Friday, November 22 at 6pm with local personality and dialect coach Charlie Haylock pressing the button.

The lights were previously switched on by ITV Anglia news presenter Becky Jago in 2022 and by local bowl champions Katherine and John Rednall last year.

Once the lights are switched on, the church will also offer special viewing evenings for visitors on December 17 with a sensory evening for those who need a quiet venue from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

On December 19, the church will be open for a special nighttime viewing to allow guests to enjoy the trees illuminated in the evening.

In addition to the festival, organisers have also launched a ‘Star Trail’ activity where visitors can explore 18 venues in the town with each displaying a star with a letter.

Once all letters are found, they can be put together to reveal a Christmas-themed phrase for participants to uncover.