Advent Calendar

Get into the festive spirit by adding some of these great upcoming events to your calendar!

BOX CHRISTMAS MARKET

Selwyn Hall, Box 12 December, 2-5pm The annual Box Christmas Market will be throwing open its doors at Selwyn Hall, on Sunday 12th December from 2 - 5pm. This fun-filled, festive event provides a shopping experience with a difference and all under one roof. There will be stalls to delight with gifts available from a range of local businesses, a cafe selling delicious cakes and refreshments and an amazing raffle. There will also be plenty to entertain the younger generations, with games, festive craft activities and Santa’s grotto. • fb.me/e/NNuIe96h

LIGHTS SWITCH ON & GIFT FAIR

Bradford on Avon Bradford on Avon is celebrating this year with the Christmas Lights switch on and a Christmas Gift Fair on Friday 26 November 2021.

The traditional Lights switch on is at 6pm in Westbury Gardens, accompanied by Christmas Carols and the Mayor’s speech. This will be supported by lots of outdoor entertainment, including bungee trampolines and bumper cars, a merry-go-round, and live music with Christmas carols, karaoke Christmas songs and a Santa’s grotto!

The Gift Fair, open from 4pm until 8.30pm in St Margaret’s Hall, will have stalls galore. There will be plenty of ideas for presents with a difference, including handmade artisan gifts and stocking fillers, Christmas wreaths, handmade jewellery, games, and so much more. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy festive food stalls and delicious refreshments, including a mulled gin bar!

Locals and visitors to the town can enjoy some late-night shopping in Lamb Yard and join in with even more Christmas singing, with choirs and a Christmas karaoke performance. So, take a car free Friday, travel stress free with the train or bus into Bradford on Avon for what will be a great evening. • bradfordonavon.co.uk

"There will also be an opportunity to enjoy festive food stalls and delicious refreshments, including a mulled gin bar!" Bradford on Avon

The George, Bradford on Avon On Saturday 27 November The George in Bradford on Avon is hosting its own Christmas Market. Entry is free and it runs from 10.30am to 2pm. There will be lots of local sellers in attendance selling local artwork, candles, jewellery, glassware, floristry, cards and gifts, but as you might expect given the venue there’ll be plenty for food lovers to browse too, including chutneys and pickles, wines, foodie gifts and more. You can reward yourselves for an excellent morning’s Christmas shopping by staying at The George for lunch too! • thegeorgebradfordonavon.co.uk

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

Great Chalfield Manor On Saturday 18 December, from 10am until 3pm, Great Chalfield’s beautiful manor house will be hosting a Christmas Fayre that’s perfect for getting Christmas started. The house will be decorated with large Christmas tree in the Great Hall for all to see, and carols sung on the minstrels gallery too. There will be food and gift stalls aplenty as well as a barbecue in the courtyard so no one will go hungry! There will also be Christmas wreaths and decorations, candles, jewellery, pottery, smoked meats and fish, charcuterie and many other amazing stalls. Lots of fun for all and it’s also a great way to raise funds for the Friends of Great Chalfield. • greatchalfield.co.uk

FESTIVE EVENT & SANTA’S GROTTO

Hope Nature Centre, Southwick A Magical Christmas at Hope Nature Centre will see the return of the massively popular festive event, featuring a whole host of festive activities, as well as a meet with Santa himself.

GREAT CHALFIELD Christmas fayre

saturday 18 december, 10am-3pm

In the Great Hall & The Courtyards There will be a variety of Christmas food stalls and presents to buy around the open fire and large Christmas tree with carol singing in the minstrels gallery. Food & coffee available.

Requested donations - Adults £5, Children Free 01225 782239 | www.greatchalfield.co.uk near Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8NH

Christmas Market

Local Art, Candles, Jewellery, Glassware, Floristry, Cards, Gifts, Chutney & Pickles, Wine Gifts, Foodie Gifts & More... Saturday 27th November, 10.30am-2pm

FREE ENTRY LUNCH & REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE Now also taking bookings for your Christmas get-togethers!

67 Woolley Street, Bradford on Avon BA15 1AQ 01225 865650 | info@thegeorgebradfordonavon.co.uk fi thegeorgebradfordonavon.co.uk

Visitors start their trip on the Snowflake Express land train. During the day those onboard will be able to spot a variety of animals, and during the twilight sessions, there will be a variety of light up displays, making the trip to Santa’s grotto that little more exciting. After disembarking, visitors will walk through the sparkling lights of the Woodland Walk, before arriving at Santa’s Woodland Grotto.

Visitors to the centre, with is at Southwick Country Park on the outskirts of Trowbridge, get their own meet and greet with Santa, with children receiving a present. Adults can enjoy a hot chocolate and mince pie from our new Picnic Lodge afterwards, included in the ticket. The event is running on selected dates between 20 November and 24 December. Tickets are pre-book only, and some dates are already sold out, so be quick! Head to the website to book tickets. • hopenaturecentre.org.uk/ christmas

Melksham is renowned for its spectacular Christmas lights

You can meet Santa at Hope Nature Centre Innox Mills Building, Trowbridge Taking place at Innox Mills in Trowbridge from 19-21 November, visitors will be able to browse a wide selection of products including artisan gifts, local ales and spirits, plus decorations, holly wreaths. Refreshments will include delicious street food, spiced cider and mulled wine, with live music and carol singing all adding to the festive atmosphere against the backdrop of the beautiful Grade 2-listed Innox Mills building. • theatm.co.uk

“Refreshments will include delicious street food, spiced cider and mulled wine, with live music and carol singing all adding to the festive atmosphere”

Innox Mills Christmas Market

CHRISTMAS FAYRE & LIGHTS SWITCH ON

Melksham Market Place & Melksham Assembly Hall The volunteers who bring Christmas to Melksham are working hard to make 2021 a spectacular comeback! Saturday 4 December will see the Market Place and Assembly Hall once again full of Christmassy food, drink and gifts, with fairground rides and something for all the family. Father Christmas is also looking forward to visiting Melksham, where he is happy to join us in following Covid safety guidelines. The Fayre is open from 1pm to 5.45pm, with the much celebrated Melksham Christmas Lights being switched on at 6pm.

Melksham Town Council is working with the Melksham Christmas Lights volunteers who brave the wintry weather to provide our stunning lights display every year, and Sara

Land who organises the Fayre. For more information get in touch with Melksham Town Hall on 01225 704187 or towncouncil@melkshamtc.gov.uk. Or for stalls contact Sara on sklroo2@gmail.com or 07826 600088. • melksham-tc.gov.uk "Once a month, Trowbridge town centre comes alive with the Weavers Market setting up stalls down Fore Street and in the Town Hall and Emmanuel’s Yard."

CINDERELLA

Theatre Royal Bath With a brand new joke-filled script by Bath’s own award-winning writer and all round pantomime legend Jon Monie, Cinderella promises great family fun and festive frivolity this Christmas. This spectacular production will delight with its enchanting story, sidesplitting comedy, lavish settings and adorable miniature ponies. BAFTA award-winning actress Dani Harmer stars as the Fairy Godmother. Dani who plays the legendary Tracy Beaker in the BBC series of the same name, and was also a Strictly Come Dancing finalist, returned to the role again this year in My Mum Tracy Beaker on CBBC. No stranger to the stage Dani has starred in numerous pantomimes, as well as musical theatre in the West End and on tour throughout the UK. Jon Monie returns for his fifteenth consecutive year to play Buttons and to help create all the festive hilarity and tomfoolery that make Bath pantos so much fun for everyone. • theatreroyal.org.uk Hall and Emmanuel’s Yard. As well as the stalls for shopping there is also live music all day, street food for lunch and circus workshops for the kids and kids-at-heart. This community-run market was set up in 2019 to increase local businesses in town and to support creative endeavours in the area.

Peta Knott, Communications Officer on the Volunteer Organising Committee says: “I enjoy working with all these creative people to bring the market to life once a month. It is so rewarding to see the amazing products they have for sale at the market. Trowbridge has a lot of talent that isn’t so hidden anymore thanks to the market!”

The aim of the market is to weave together community, creativity and independent traders with the ultimate goal of making Trowbridge a better place for everyone to live. By purchasing items from the 60 independent local traders, Trowbridge residents can be assured that they are bringing business back into town, reducing their shopping carbon footprint and most importantly, taking home unique and hand-crafted items made locally.

There are two remaining markets for 2021 on 13 November and 11 December from 10am until 4pm and don’t forget to visit all the stalls in Emmanuel’s Yard, Fore Street and Town Hall. • trowbridgeweaversmarket.co.uk

WEAVERS MARKET

Trowbridge Town Hall & Fore Street Once a month, Trowbridge town centre comes alive with the Weavers Market setting up stalls down Fore Street and in the Town

Dani Harner as Cinderella JACK & THE BEANSTALK

Wyvern Theatre, Swindon The Wyvern Theatre are back with their much-loved panto for 2021, and this year it's the infamous

Jack and the Beanstalk!

Follow Jack (played by Louie Spence) and climb a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to cloudland in the spectacular family pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack as he fights to save the beautiful Princess, outwit the evil giant and win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and the hand of the girl he loves.

Expect laughs, music, special effects, magic beans and bundles of audience participation in this giant of a pantomime! • swindontheatres.co.uk

Award Winning, Family Run Farm Shop Premium Established for over 30 years Christmas Trees on sale from Selling Quality Local Produce Saturday 27th Open 7 days a week November

HOME & LOCALLY REARED FRESH MEAT, POULTRY & GAME CHRISTMAS MEAT ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN ONLINE & IN STORE

LOCAL CHEESES & HOME COOKED MEATS LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES, FRUIT & SALADS HOMEMADE CAKES & PIES LOCALLY MADE CHOCOLATES & FUDGE FINE WINE, LOCAL ALE & CIDER PRESERVES & CHUTNEYS GIFT HAMPERS

www.allingtonfarmshop.co.uk TEL: 01249 658112 Allington Bar Farm, Chippenham, SN14 6LJ