Wednesday 10 December 2008, 5:45pm – 8:30pm

On the evening of Wednesday December 10, the streets of Bridport will come alive as the town centre shops, market traders and numerous local clubs and organisations get together to celebrate the Christmas period with a lively, festive, community event.

The Bridport Christmas Festival and late night shopping event starts at 5:45pm with Santa in his sleigh driving up East Street to Bucky Doo Square. At 6pm the mayor, Martin Ray, will declare the evening officially open by welcoming everyone and switching on the Bucky Doo Christmas tree lights.

This year the committee have decided to give the event a Dickensian theme and are encouraging visitors, traders and shop staff to dress-up in Dickensian costumes. Shopkeepers and stall holders are also being encouraged to hang lanterns in their windows and on their stalls to help add atmosphere.

For children, in addition to the Chamber of Commerce children’s Christmas party and fancy dress competition held earlier in the afternoon there will be Christmas card making in the Arts Centre in the evening and Santa will be in his grotto giving presents. Punch and Judy will provide laughter and entertainment, fair ground rides will add to the fun and Looney B Looney will be creating magic with his balloons.

St Swithun’s Band, St Mary’s School Choir and the United Church Choir will fill the air with festive tunes and songs. Many theatrical and musical entertainers including the Symondsbury Mummers, the Panto Players, Encore Theatre and the Jellicle Cats, West Dorset Music Centre and Ways of the Mouth will be found in venues, on street corners and mingling with visitors, entertaining adults, teenagers and children alike.

Many of the towns' shops will be staying open and each of the main streets will be lined with market stalls, charity stalls and craft stalls supplying goods and goodies for Christmas as well as roast chestnuts, mulled wine and other festive food and drink.

Bridport Museum will throw open its doors allowing free entry for the evening, the Farmers Market will be open in the Bridport Arts Centre, the Electric Palace will be hosting stalls as well as entertainment and the Town Hall will also host stalls. The ever-popular Bridport Christmas Tree Festival, now in its 11th year, will be on at Bridport United Church (see below) where parents can also find baby changing facilities if they need them.

Car parking will be free on the night and whilst East Street and West Street will remain open to traffic, South Street will be closed to traffic from 2:30 pm to 9:30 pm between the Town Hall and Gundry Lane. This is to allow stalls to be set-up and removed either side of the event and to create a large, safe pedestrianised area for many of the activities.

The festival is a great opportunity to join in the Chamber of Commerce ‘Mis-placed article’ competition which runs from 29 November to 13 December with cash prizes for the top 3 entries. Entry forms are available before, during and after the event from Toymaster, Bridport Arts & Crafts, Smith & Smith, Harbour News (West Bay) Bridport News office, A G Down, Nantes and the Bridport Tourist Information Office.

Arthur Woodgate, Chair of the voluntary group who organise the event, said: "We gratefully acknowledge the immense support that this event receives, particularly from town surveyor Daryl Chambers, the town council, local shopkeepers, traders, businesses, community groups, venues and individuals who all provide the gifts, financial support and their time to make this event possible. We also welcome anyone interested in helping further develop this important community event, whatever their age or background.”

So, don your Dickensian glad rags and come join the fun at this years Bridport Christmas Festival!

Christmas Tree Festival. The 11th Annual Bridport United Church Christmas Tree Festival runs for one week from Wednesday 10 December to Wednesday 17 December. 65 illuminated trees will be on display in the United Church, each with a different theme and decorated either by a charity, church, community group, club, public authority, school or young people’s group. Admission is free and doors are open weekdays 10am to 2pm and on the night of the Bridport Christmas Festival. Enquiries to 01308 423157.

* If you would like to help sponsor the Bridport Christmas Festival, join the organising committee or help on the day, please call the town council on (01308) 456722 and leave your details to be passed on to the Bridport Christmas Festival committee.

* This website is brought to you by the Bridport Christmas Festival committee in association with the Bridport News.

Read about the last year's Festival here.