Filey’s festive tradition to honour fishing heritage over Christmas
The Fishtive Tree big switch-on will be on December 7 with songs from Ebor Academy
Filey will be embracing the festive spirit as it prepares to light up its annual Christmas tree which celebrates the town’s fishing heritage.
The Fishtive Tree which is made from lobster pots, dressed with fishy bunting and topped by a golden salmon, is set to be unveiled on Saturday December 7.
Ebor Academy Choir will provide songs from 5pm and the lights in the tree will be officially switched on at 6pm.
Organisers say that although it is only the third year that the tree has appeared on the Coble Landing, the Fishtive tree has already become a much-loved institution. The tree, which is organised entirely by volunteers, has also been described as “quite a sight” for residents and visitors to the town.
The inspiration for the tree came after a Filey resident saw Ullapool’s creel tree, in Scotland, and proposed the idea to the area’s tourism association.
Local fishermen were asked whether they could supply the pots and the tree made its first appearance on the Coble Landing in 2017.
The name Fishtive tree came from one of the pupils of Filey Junior School when they were designing a poster for the event. Visitors are invited to make donations, which, along with generous sponsorship, will help ensure that the tree will return next year to keep this event a festive tradition in Filey. The tree will remain lit during the hours of darkness until Thursday January 2.
Any surplus funds donated will be donated to projects involving young people in the town.
The Fishtive Tree has already become a much-loved institution