The countdown to Christmas is on, with a range of free events organised by Rushmoor Borough Council set to spread festive magic across Rushmoor throughout November and December.
Christmas starts in Aldershot town centre on Saturday 14 November, with the Aldershot Christmas Cracker.
The fun starts at midday when the town centre will be packed full of festive stalls to browse and free family activities to enjoy, live entertainment across two stages, street theatre and a street food zone outside the Princes Hall. The highlight of the day will be the countdown to the Christmas lights switch-on, which will take place in Princes Gardens from 5.10pm, including a short firework display.
Next in the diary, is the Farnborough Frost Fair in Farnborough town centre on Saturday 21 November from 10am to 3.30pm. The Frost Fair welcomes more than 50 stallholders who will be setting up along Queensmead offering gifts, local food and drink, handcrafted jewellery and Christmas decorations.
As well as lots more free family activities, there will be live entertainment across two stages with a programme packed full of festive performances. There will also be fun fair rides and a chance to meet some beautiful birds of prey.
Other events in the packed calendar include the Farnborough Christmas Craft Fayre on Saturday 5 December in Queensmead, from 9am to 4pm.
North Camp will be hosting its own festive evening on Thursday 26 November from 4.30pm to 8pm with late night shopping, music, refreshments and more.
For the first time, Rushmoor Voluntary Services are running a free Santa's Grotto at Union Yard in Aldershot town centre on the weekends leading up to Christmas with support from the council. It will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 28 November through to 20 December from 11am to 3pm (Santa and his elves will take a short break at 12.30pm). There will also be a quiet hour from 10am to 11am, which can be booked in advance.
BB Dog Boutique in Aldershot town centre are organising a festive themed dog show on Sunday 29 November.
The popular North Town carol concert will be taking place on Wednesday 9 December from 6.30pm
Aldershot’s Christmas Craft Fayre will be taking place in the warmth of The Wellington shopping centre on Saturday 12 December from 10am to 3pm.
The final event of the year will be a magical evening of Carols in the Bandstand in Aldershot town centre on Saturday 19 December from 5.30pm until 6.30pm at the community bandstand in Princes Gardens hosted by Aldershot Churches Together.
In the build up to Christmas the council will be offering free festive parking in most council car parks on the three Sundays leading up to Christmas on 6, 13 and 20 December. Find out more (and where the offer applies) on our Park for free this Christmas page.
Councillor Julie Hall, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Regeneration at Rushmoor Borough Council said: "Christmas is always a special time for bringing communities together, and we're delighted to once again offer a programme of free festive events and our free parking offer to help support our businesses. There is so much going on, and I am delighted that we have seen an increase in our town centre footfall, when compared to this time last year. I’d like to thank our community for supporting the local businesses in our towns."
Councillor Hall added: "The what's on calendar on our website is packed with details of all the fantastic events, plus other local events coming up in Aldershot and Farnborough over the festive season. You can also let us know if you are organising your own event."
To find out more about all the events and the council's what's on calendar go to our What's on in Aldershot and Farnborough page.
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