Town set for major festive spectacle (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Town set for major festive spectacle

10:39am Thursday 26th November 2009

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CIRENCESTER will be treated to some traditional festive fare when the Advent festival gets underway this weekend.

The town centre will be transformed with a magical lantern procession by local schoolchildren, and with live entertainment, seasonal food, market stalls, carol singing and the official switch on of the town lights, the event promises to be better than ever.

Planning for this Sunday’s festival started months ago and organisers have crammed in as much entertainment, fun and festive treats as they can.

"This year, some of the elements that people have missed in recent years will be reintroduced, such as the Advent Market and fair rides for the children," said secretary of Cirencester’s Chamber of Commerce Karen Gaisford.

The Advent market will be at the Corn Hall between 10am and 4pm where local charities and businesses will have stalls.

"We will have a range of gift ideas such as scarves, gloves, jewellery, little leather goods, home wares, rugs, cushions, plants, Christmas cards, stocking fillers, toys and delicious cup cakes and lots more," said organiser Augusta Wreay.

And for those who finish the Christmas shopping early, a free carol concert takes place at the Parish Church from 3-4pm.

There will be story telling in the Parish Church at 1.30pm and entertainment on stage in the Market Place at 2pm.

Entertainment comes in the form of singers with local girls Gabrielle Bolton, Ann Martin, Abbie Drew, Katie Smith and Christina Pitaway, who made it through ‘Cirencester has Talent’ held in June.

The children can be kept entertained on the fairground rides and meet Santa who will be in his Grotto in the new Brewery Arms from 3-5pm free of charge.

Children from four local schools will light the streets with their willow lanterns that they have spent weeks making for the lantern procession into the Market Place.

Following that will be the official switch-on of the Christmas lights at 5.15pm which will be carried out by Lance Corporal James Tsolakis of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. Lance Corporal Tsolakis, will join the Mayor of Cirencester Geoffrey Adams and Rev Leonard Doolan for the ceremony which will be greeted with a peal of the church bells.

The former Deer Park School soldier returned from active service in Afghanistan earlier this year, where he served for 6 months in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Cllr Adams said: "This is a splendid way to focus the minds of everyone on how much we all owe the young men and woman, who are so readily prepared to volunteer for service in the front line of the battle against terrorism in Afghanistan".

The Market Place will be closed to traffic from 12noon-7pm.

For the full timetable of events visit www.adventfestival.co.uk

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