WITH THE countdown to Christmas in full swing, here are five festive things to do in Bromsgrove this weekend.
► PROBABLY the most seasonal event this weekend will be Bromsgrove’s annual Christmas lights switch-on and Midwinter Fest in the town centre tomorrow (Saturday).
The fun starts at 3.30pm with entertainment provided by local singers, youngsters from Chadsgrove School Choir and The Rock Choir.
Father Christmas and his helpers will be in attendance with home-grown Harry Potter star Mark Williams – who played Ron’s dad Arthur Weasley in seven of the hit movies – pushing the plunger at 5.30pm.
There will also be a few flakes in the air from the snow machine that proved popular last year.
After that, a procession will lead residents up to St John’s Church for the Midwinter Fest – that will feature charity stalls, spooky walks and the chance to climb the 200ft tower to see the town illuminated from above.
For more about the lights switch-on and the Midwinter Fest, click here: http://ow.ly/Eog4D
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► CATSHILL’S annual Christmas Fair will feature a variety of seasonal items made by talented local residents.
Among them will be knitted handbags, wire works jewellery, handmade cards, felt-work gifts, soft furnishings and needlecraft accessories, textile jewellery, a bead and ribbon sale stall and personalised gifts.
There will be tea, coffee and home-made cakes.
The event will be between 10am and 1pm at Catshill Village Hall tomorrow (Saturday).
Admission is free and proceeds from the cafe will go towards the Village Hall Maintenance Fund.
Craft Fair organiser Loraine Cooke said everyone was looking forward to the day.
Visit www.catshillvillagehall.co.uk for more.
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► HANBURY Hall will be one of the National Trust properties showcasing some super seasonal traditions to illustrate how Christmases were celebrated in days gone by.
The home will be decroated with traditional decorations and there will be the annual stirring of the Christmas pudding on Sunday (November 23).
The venue will also be stocking books, homeware and local products relating to traditional the festive season
Festive recipe ideas are available on the NTMIDLANDS Twitter and Facebook pages and more information can be gleaned at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands
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►CRAFTY workshops to get people into the festive spirit are running between now and Christmas at Alvechurch Library.
A beaded decoration session starts at 10.30am tomorrow (Saturday) with wooden and paper decoration making next Friday (November 28) from 10am and ‘decorate a festive Christmas gift box’ on December 4 from 2.30pm.
E-mail [email protected] to book a place at £16.25 for the beaded workshop or £10 for either of the others.
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►RESIDENTS can get their skates on and head to Webbs.
The garden centre’s ice rink officially opens tomorrow (Saturday), guaranteeing people an ice time in the run up to Christmas.
The rink will be in place until January 4, closing only on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and there will also be some evening sessions.
Webbs chairman Ed Webb said: “There’s nothing to make you feel festive more than skating outdoors on real ice.
“And this year we have our biggest rink ever plus a great clear roof covering so you can skate whatever the weather.”
Each session is 45 minutes long and ticket price includes skate hire.
The rink-side Christmas Café will make the experience complete and ice skating tickets are from just £6.
Visit www.webbs.co.uk or pop into Webbs to buy tickets. Advanced booking is recommended.
