Delicious cakes proved a high point at last year’s St Clement’s Christmas Fair (photo: Colin Foy).

Sparkly Christmas events to light up the Old Town

Hastings Old Town is, as ever, the place to be as Christmas approaches, with the usual Christmas Fair and Christmas Tree Festival at St Clement’s church and a Christmas Shopping Day in Butler’s Gap staged by the Old Town Traders. Lynda Foy has all the details.

Visitors to Hastings Old Town can add some sparkle to their Christmas shopping list this month, when St Clement’s Church is hosting its annual Parish Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 23, to help raise funds for maintaining the building and its neighbouring church of All Saints.

The fair, which runs from 10am to 2pm, will feature the Cocktail Choir, singing festive songs. The choir, which meets at the Forbidden Fruit bar in St Leonards, is due to entertain from 12 noon.

Attractions at the fair will include cakes, books, crafts, homeware, jewellery, a tombola and a ‘prize every time’ raffle. Refreshments will be available throughout the period, with hot soup, rolls and cakes served from 12 noon.

Brightly decorated trees at last year’s Christmas Tree Festival (photo: Colin Foy).

This month also sees the start of the Two Towers Trust’s annual Christmas Tree Festival, when the church is filled with a host of Christmas trees provided by individuals, organisations and businesses and decorated according to a theme.

The festival will take place on the weekends of November 30/December 1 and December 7/8, from 11am to 3pm, with a theme of Festive Fun. It will also feature a craft fair, seasonal entertainment and refreshments.

The trees can also be viewed just by their lights on Friday, December 6, between 6 and 7.30pm.

Christmas tree entry forms are available in November’s parish magazine, or by contacting Smith-r60@sky.com or calling 01424 718736 01424 444483.

The Two Towers Trust raises funds to maintain, repair and restore the parish’s two ancient medieval churches.

Old Town traders will also stage a Christmas Shopping Day on Saturday, December 7, at Butlers Gap in George Street. The event, running from 10.30am to 5.30pm, will feature a visit by Father Christmas from 11am to 4.30pm, plus a children’s treasure hunt, in-store events, refreshments and street entertainment. More details from @hastingsoldtowntraders.

The Cocktail Choir will be singing festive songs at St Clement’s Christmas Fair (photo: The Cocktail Choir).

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