CHUCK OUT YOUR GRINCH
WITH Ashbourne’s festive season well and truly under way, a host of events are lined up to help tease even the most stubborn Scrooges into the Christmas spirit.
Ashbourne’s Late Night Shopping evening takes place on Friday, and a huge team of organisers have joined Ashbourne Town Council to make sure this year’s event goes with a swing.
Beginning with the annual lantern procession at 6.30pm, the event promises a range of attractions around the town’s closed streets, from live music to festive food and gifts laid out on stalls.
This year Ashbourne Rugby Club will once again be helping Father Christmas meet the town’s children at a grotto set up in St John Street, by the Millennium Clock. For just £1 children can meet Santa and take away a small treat.
A special one-off stall will be set up this year to offer another chance to buy one of the last figurines from the summer’s popular Our Game art installation.
The project, by Ashbourne Festival and The Clayrooms, saw 5,000 clay models made to depict a Shrovetide scene in St Oswald’s Church and people can now take away one of the figures as a keepsake in return for a minimum £5 donation. Ashbourne Town Council will be hosting a festive craft fair in the town hall throughout the event and charities will be setting up stalls around the town.
Ashbourne Methodist Church has been hosting an advent display since Thursday, with displays on the theme of “opening the doors of Christmas” available to view.
And the centre-piece of the event will be a chance to pick up gifts in the town’s shops, and to stop off for refreshments or food at the pubs and cafes.
Businesses will be open until around 8.30pm and many have taken part in a shop window competition which will be judged on the night by Ashbourne’s mayor Sue Bull and News Telegraph senior journalist Gareth Butterfield.