HERE are five festive things to do in Bromsgrove and South Birmingham this weekend:
► ON SATURDAY (November 29), the Rubery Christmas lights will be switched on.
The plunger will be pushed at 5.30pm on New Road.
Prior to that, there will be festive flurries in the air, thanks to a snow machine and appearances by Father Christmas, a snowman and a reindeer.
The fun starts at 3.30pm with a host of entertainment, including face-painting, crafts and performances by local singers and the St James School Choir.
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► NORTHFIELD will be more like the North Pole this weekend when Santa and his eskimo helpers head to the town’s shopping centre.
The Arctic grotto at Northfield Shopping centre will even feature polar bears, seals and penguins – on holiday from the South Pole.
Youngsters can have their photograph taken with Father Christmas from 11am on Saturday (November 30) and then between 11am and 4pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout next month, along with December 22 and Christmas Eve.
Entrance, which includes a present, is £4.
Visit www.northfieldshopping.co.uk for more information.
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► A CHRISTMAS cracker brunch will be held at the Beacon Church Centre, Whetty Lane, Rubery.
As well as the festive fun and food at the event, which takes place between 10am and 1pm next Saturday (November 29), there will be a special appearance by the man in the big red suit.
A cake stall, gift stall and colouring competition are also on the menu and the church centre’s spokesperson Jim Richardson said organisers have aimed for the brunch to provide activities for all ages.
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► THERE will be plenty of festive fun at St David’s Church in Shenley Green, Northfield, when the annual Christmas fayre is held.
Next Saturday (November 29) there will be cakes, plants, books and pretty things on sale, along with gifts, Christmas decorations, cards and toys.
There will also be a ‘pick-a-sock’ chocolate stall, a bottle raffle, a tombola and a name the teddy contest.
And no fayre would be complete without an appearance from the man in the big red suit.
Father Christmas will also be at the event, which takes place between 10am and 1pm.
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► THERE will be plenty of festive favourites when members of Blackwell Concert Band perform their Christmas-themed charity concert to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The event will take place at Catshill Methodist Church, Golden Cross Lane, at 7.30pm on Saturday (Novmber 29).
It is the fourth year the concert has been held after the secretary Vicky Stock was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The most successful was in 2012 at the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham when the event raised more than £2,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Vicky said the band was very excited about this year’s concert as its new CD will be officially launched at the event and Blackwell Training Band, which was only started this year, will be performing in its first formal concert.
“I found Macmillan such a great source of information and support when I was diagnosed in 2009, and now five years later I take part in fund-raising and volunteering, to try and help others going through a similar experience,” she added.
Tickets, at £8, can be purchased from Vicky on [email protected] or ring 0121 244 1662.
