Come along and join in the festivities at this year’s Christmas lights switch on and support our Live Love Local campaign in West Street Fareham on Saturday 20th November.
This family-friendly event will have something for everyone with the pedestrianised area of West Street lined with reindeer, face painting, circus workshop, fun fair rides, festive gift stalls, delicious food and drink and activities all day between 10am and 8pm.
The theme will be ‘A Victorian Circus’ with circus performers entertaining the crowds throughout the day and a circus themed fancy dress competition which everyone can get involved in. Two winners will be chosen on the day and will be presented with a family voucher for the new ‘Top Rock’ climbing wall at Fareham Leisure Centre.
The festivities will be overseen by none other than Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson and Father Christmas will, of course, be making an appearance. The Christmas lights will be switched on at 5.30pm by the Mayor of Fareham, Cllr Mrs Pamela Bryant, and there will be a very special finale to the day’s events which is not to be missed.
There will be no fireworks this year and whilst there will be a small charge for the fun fair rides, activities such as face painting, craft activities and meeting the reindeer will all be free.
This dazzling occasion is supporting the ‘Live Love Local’ message, designed to help Fareham’s diverse range of unique, independent shops and food and drink businesses bounce back after the challenges of the pandemic and rally against competition from online and out of town shopping.
The campaign has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund and a new website: www.livelovelocalfareham.co.uk and supporting social media campaign is keeping shoppers up to date with what’s on offer on their doorstep.
Executive Member for Leisure and Community at Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Sue Walker, said: “This all-day event will be packed full of festive entertainment, made all the sweeter after last year’s event had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“This is a major event in the Fareham Borough Council diary so it’s great to see such a lot on offer for all the family. I encourage residents to come along early to visit some of Fareham’s specialist local shops and get some early Christmas gifts. Plus make sure you stay after the lights go on as we have a magical finale planned which you will not want to miss.”
Find out more and check out the timetable of events at www.fareham.gov.uk/christmaslights
