A SPECTACULAR Christmas celebration will once again see a town centre bedazzled with lights, market stalls and street entertainment.
This year’s Ringwood Winter ‘Wanderland’ kicks off with the annual community event on Sunday, November 27.
The free event, organised by Ringwood Town Council, is to take place in the town centre but will scale up this year with festive activities spilling out into the Gateway, High Street, Market Place and Southampton Road.
Organisers have also described the build-up to this year’s event as “even more exciting” after the major A31 roadworks were completed ahead of schedule, avoiding a clash with the event and making the town fully accessible once again.
The community event, which starts at 11.30am, includes a market with more than 60 stalls made up of local arts, crafts and produce, gifts and charity stalls.
Shoppers will be able to enjoy an array of hot food and drink including mulled wine, hog roast, a fish and chip van, bratwurst and stone baked pizza.
A charity bar, run by the Ringwood and District Roundtable, will be positioned in the Market Place where there will also be live music from 2pm. A small fair will be set up in the Market Place and Ringwood and Burley Band are performing on the High Street as well as street entertainment from Steamship Circus.
For the first time, a mini ‘Polar Express’ will provide children’s rides from Friday’s Cross. The miniature steam train is operated by Chuffley Light Railway.
Santa will be in his grotto from noon in the courtyard of Ringwood Gateway. Some timed tickets may be available on the day but visitors are advised to check social media to avoid disappointment.
Two parades involving Santa will also take place, with the first leaving the town centre car park at 11.30am. This will drop into the Furlong Shopping Centre and make its way around the town centre.
The second parade leaves at 5.45pm, arriving for 6pm in the Market Place for the all-important switching on of the Christmas Lights.
A Christmas window decoration competition also opens on November 28 and members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite from at least 25 entries.
Visit ringwood.gov.uk/events/ringwood-winter-wanderland for more information.
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