KEYNSHAM Winter Festival kicks off the festive season next month with a flurry of fun the whole family can enjoy.
The event, on Friday November 24 from 6pm to 9pm, starts with a procession from the Memorial Park gates and along the High Street to the main stage adjacent to St John’s Church.
People can enjoy late-night Christmas shopping at local businesses and market stalls along the High Street, Temple Street, Market Walk, Keynsham Leisure Centre and in Fear Hall.
Street entertainers will be in the High Street, and there will be a pop-up stage outside the library for community groups and local choirs.
The Space above the library will host local schools, singers and dancers, while there will be a Punch and Judy show downstairs.
The fun fair will return to Temple Street with a ferris wheel, helter-skelter, thrill ride and other amusements.
This year’s festival will feature a proper Santa’s grotto, thanks to support from South West UK Lions Club and Keynsham Town Council’s sponsorship partner MG Estate.
Festival goers can also meet Frozen princesses Elsa and Anna lookalikes next to the Christmas tree outside St John’s Church. The tree has been sponsored this year by IJ McGill.
The festival is expanding this year into the leisure centre, with market stalls, free face-painters and soft play available. The MakeSpace venue opposite the centre will host a snowball fun area.
As part of the festival procession, lanterns will guide Father Christmas and light the way for the switch-on of the High Street Christmas lights.
Children who want to be involved in making the lanterns and walk in the procession can attend two-hour lantern workshops on Saturday November 18, at 10am, 12.30pm and 3pm. The booking link will become available on Keynsham Town Council’s Facebook and Instagram (@keynsham_town_council) pages on Monday October 16 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The community Christmas tree was planted in the Memorial Park at last year’s festival as part of the Queen’s Canopy for the Platinum Jubilee. This year, it will become a ‘Tree of Remembrance’ so people can acknowledge family and friends that are no longer with us.
Residents can collect one of 50 memorial baubles from Keynsham Town Council at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday October 14 or its Temple Street offices from Monday October 9 to be hung on the community tree during the festive period.
For more information about the festival, call deputy town clerk Katherine Sears on 0117 9868683 or email deputytownclerk@keynsham-tc.gov.uk
Pictured, entertainment at last years’ Keynsham Winter Festival – photo by Mike May
Keynsham Winter Festival’s flurry of fun
