Listen carefully and you might just hear those sleigh bells jingling …
Reindeer Hunt
Where’s Rudolph? Get the festive-season party started in Newbury by taking part in the fantastic Reindeer Hunt which runs (or should that be canters?) from Saturday 11 November until Sunday 19 November, giving everyone more than a week to join in the fun. All you need to do is follow the festive reindeer trail around Newbury town centre, solving the clues as you go, to be in with a chance to win a ride in Santa’s sleigh at the upcoming parade on Sunday 26 November.
Click here for further details of how to take part in the Reindeer Hunt.
Christmas Lights Switch-On & Santa Parade
With less than a month to go before the big day, come along to Newbury Market Place on Sunday 26 November where you can meet Santa in his grotto from 11am.
There is more excitement at 12.30pm in the Market Place when there will be live entertainment on stage, including performances from local acts such as the popular Sion Whiley and Paper Houses.
As dusk falls, there will be magic in the air as the annual Santa Parade sets off from Market Street at 4.45pm and makes its way around the town and back to the Market Place, ready for the big Christmas Lights Switch-On planned for 5.20pm. Two lucky winners of the Newbury Reindeer Hunt will ride in Santa’s sleigh during the parade – if you have taken part it could be YOU!
Santa Fun Run
As we slide into December, why not be part of the biggest Santa-suited fun run that Newbury has ever seen?
The fabulous Santa Fun Run 2017 takes place on Sunday 3 December, starting in Newbury Market Place, and is fun for all ages and all levels of fitness. It is not a timed raced – as it says on the packet, it is just for fun – so if you are not a runner you can walk as much of the route as you like!
There is an adult route of 5km and a 1km route for children. The route is: Market Place, Northbrook Street, Parkway, Victoria Park and back to Market Place where the children’s race finishes, while adults continue to Northcroft, Speen, and finally return to the finish line at Market Place.
The timetable is: 10am – event opens and runners book in, followed by pre-run warm up at 10.30am; the run starts at 11am with the event ending at 12 noon.
Entry fees are: adults £15, under 18s £10, under 8s £7. All entrants will receive a Santa suit (available in various sizes and styles) and those who complete the route will receive an engraved medal.
This event is organised by Newbury Rotary Club volunteers, assisted and sponsored by Newbury BID, with profits from the entry fees going to the Rosemary Appeal, West Berkshire Therapy Centre, West Berkshire Mencap and other Rotary Club supported charities, but runners are invited to raise money for their own good causes via this event.
A maximum of 300 runners can take part so register your interest as early as possible at: https://form.jotformeu.com/72811403904349 and order your Santa suit at the same time! Suits will be available for collection at local collection sites to be advised, or from the Market Place from 10am on 3 December.
Santa’s Grotto
After he has helped switch on Newbury’s Christmas lights, Santa Claus will be back in town and in his grotto – and just longing to know what’s on your wish list – on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December, and again from Thursday 14 until Saturday 23 December. (Then he has to nip back to the North Pole to load up his sleigh once more for his biggest delivery night of all on Christmas Eve.)
Click here for Santa's Grotto opening times!
Choir of 1, 000 Voices & Late Night Shopping
With just days to go until Christmas Day itself, one of the most wonderful nights of the year in Newbury is on Thursday 14 December when many town centre shops stay open until 8pm for you to bag a Christmas bargain, tick more items off your shopping list and enjoy Late Night Shopping.
During the evening, as has become a Newbury tradition, the town will be filled with the voices of local choirs who will be signing at different spots around the town before gathering around the magnificent Christmas tree in the Market Place to create once more a Choir of 1,000 Voices. Do go along at 7pm and join in this fantastic festive singalong!
Newbury BID will provide entertainment for all the family to enjoy during this event, with children's rides, Christmas activity workshop, roving entertainers and donkey rides, so it is going to be a spectacular, fun-filled festive evening.
And remember, Santa Claus will also be in his grotto while all this is happening on 14 December, so pop along and tell him whether you’ve been naughty or nice!
In the meantime, stay tuned to @VisitNewbury social media for all the latest event updates.
Happy Christmas everyone!
Reindeer Hunt
Where’s Rudolph? Get the festive-season party started in Newbury by taking part in the fantastic Reindeer Hunt which runs (or should that be canters?) from Saturday 11 November until Sunday 19 November, giving everyone more than a week to join in the fun. All you need to do is follow the festive reindeer trail around Newbury town centre, solving the clues as you go, to be in with a chance to win a ride in Santa’s sleigh at the upcoming parade on Sunday 26 November.
Click here for further details of how to take part in the Reindeer Hunt.
Christmas Lights Switch-On & Santa Parade
With less than a month to go before the big day, come along to Newbury Market Place on Sunday 26 November where you can meet Santa in his grotto from 11am.
There is more excitement at 12.30pm in the Market Place when there will be live entertainment on stage, including performances from local acts such as the popular Sion Whiley and Paper Houses.
As dusk falls, there will be magic in the air as the annual Santa Parade sets off from Market Street at 4.45pm and makes its way around the town and back to the Market Place, ready for the big Christmas Lights Switch-On planned for 5.20pm. Two lucky winners of the Newbury Reindeer Hunt will ride in Santa’s sleigh during the parade – if you have taken part it could be YOU!
Santa Fun Run
As we slide into December, why not be part of the biggest Santa-suited fun run that Newbury has ever seen?
The fabulous Santa Fun Run 2017 takes place on Sunday 3 December, starting in Newbury Market Place, and is fun for all ages and all levels of fitness. It is not a timed raced – as it says on the packet, it is just for fun – so if you are not a runner you can walk as much of the route as you like!
There is an adult route of 5km and a 1km route for children. The route is: Market Place, Northbrook Street, Parkway, Victoria Park and back to Market Place where the children’s race finishes, while adults continue to Northcroft, Speen, and finally return to the finish line at Market Place.
The timetable is: 10am – event opens and runners book in, followed by pre-run warm up at 10.30am; the run starts at 11am with the event ending at 12 noon.
Entry fees are: adults £15, under 18s £10, under 8s £7. All entrants will receive a Santa suit (available in various sizes and styles) and those who complete the route will receive an engraved medal.
This event is organised by Newbury Rotary Club volunteers, assisted and sponsored by Newbury BID, with profits from the entry fees going to the Rosemary Appeal, West Berkshire Therapy Centre, West Berkshire Mencap and other Rotary Club supported charities, but runners are invited to raise money for their own good causes via this event.
A maximum of 300 runners can take part so register your interest as early as possible at: https://form.jotformeu.com/72811403904349 and order your Santa suit at the same time! Suits will be available for collection at local collection sites to be advised, or from the Market Place from 10am on 3 December.
Santa’s Grotto
After he has helped switch on Newbury’s Christmas lights, Santa Claus will be back in town and in his grotto – and just longing to know what’s on your wish list – on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December, and again from Thursday 14 until Saturday 23 December. (Then he has to nip back to the North Pole to load up his sleigh once more for his biggest delivery night of all on Christmas Eve.)
Click here for Santa's Grotto opening times!
Choir of 1, 000 Voices & Late Night Shopping
With just days to go until Christmas Day itself, one of the most wonderful nights of the year in Newbury is on Thursday 14 December when many town centre shops stay open until 8pm for you to bag a Christmas bargain, tick more items off your shopping list and enjoy Late Night Shopping.
During the evening, as has become a Newbury tradition, the town will be filled with the voices of local choirs who will be signing at different spots around the town before gathering around the magnificent Christmas tree in the Market Place to create once more a Choir of 1,000 Voices. Do go along at 7pm and join in this fantastic festive singalong!
Newbury BID will provide entertainment for all the family to enjoy during this event, with children's rides, Christmas activity workshop, roving entertainers and donkey rides, so it is going to be a spectacular, fun-filled festive evening.
And remember, Santa Claus will also be in his grotto while all this is happening on 14 December, so pop along and tell him whether you’ve been naughty or nice!
In the meantime, stay tuned to @VisitNewbury social media for all the latest event updates.
Happy Christmas everyone!
