A feast of festive shopping events in Wealden towns and villages is being promoted by the District Council’s Streets Ahead initiative.
They include late night shopping sessions, switching on the Christmas lights, visits by Father Christmas, ice skating and carols sung by local choirs. Two places, Pevensey Bay and Polegate, have organised special Dickensian shopping events, while Forest Row is holding a St Nicholas Food & Fairy Day.
“Streets Ahead is all about putting the focus back on to our local shops and, with Small Business Saturday taking place on 6 December, we hope many more people will want to do their Christmas shopping locally, saving on petrol, parking costs and bolstering the local economy,” said Councillor Roy Galley, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Regeneration. “Supporting your local shops is the best way to cut out all the hassle of Christmas shopping.”
The events include:
- Horam Late Night Shopping 4 December 5 – 8pm with a Victorian theme.
- Pevensey Bay Dickensian Event 6 December 4.30 – 9pm.
- Mayfield Late Night Shopping 5 December 5pm including local choir.
- Polegate High Street Dickensian Event 29 November 1.30 – 5pm.
- Rotherfield Christmas Tree Lights 30 November 7.30pm.
- Forest Row St Nicholas Food & Fairy Day 6 December 2 – 8pm.
- Wadhurst Rotary Late Night Shopping 5 December 4.30pm onwards.
- Hailsham Christmas Event 6 December 10am – 4pm.
- Crowborough Christmas Cracker Event 28 November 4 – 6pm.
- Willingdon Christmas with Wealden Brass 11 December 6.30 – 8.30pm.
As part of the Streets Ahead project, Wealden District Council has produced a Christmas tree shaped flyer, highlighting 13 events taking place up and down the District in the run up to Christmas. Full details of the Christmas events can be found on the event guide in the Leisure section of the Wealden website, www.wealden.gov.uk and on the Wealden Do Sussex website, www.wealdendo-sussex.co.uk
Streets Ahead is a councillor-led initiative looking at ways Wealden can support and revitalise its local communities. Its five main objectives are to:
- Support local high street regeneration efforts.
- Assist with district wide joined up strategic solutions.
- Stimulate supporting economic growth.Improve perceptions of Wealden’s high streets.
- Position Wealden as a leader of innovative high street regeneration.
