THE FESTIVE season launches this weekend as more than 400,000 lights get switched on by Reading’s pantomime dame.
Dame Nanny Bubbles – aka actor Paul Morse – will take time out from preparing for this year’s Hexagon panto Sleeping Beauty to undertake the all-important role, just one of many attractions in the town centre this weekend.
A Christmas market has been installed in the town centre with stalls selling seasonal gifts and refreshments, while there will be live music in Broad Street between 1.30pm and 4.30pm, before the light switch-on.
The event is just one of a series of pre-Christmas goodies that shoppers can look forward to in the run-up to December 25.
Santa arrives at Broad St. Mall on Saturday, November 25, giving young and not-so-young the opportunity to share their dreams and hopes for their festive stockings.
Then, on Saturday, December 2, Reading’s Business Improvement District (BID) is organising a Lantern Parade.
It will start at 5.30pm outside Blue Collar Corner, making its way to Forbury Gardens for a light and musical finale.
On Sunday, December 3, shoppers at John Lewis will be serenaded by the Reading Spring Gardens Brass Band performance from 2pm to 3.30pm.
The annual Launchpad’s Carols by Candlelight event will take place on Tuesday, December 5 in Reading Town Hall.
The winners of this year’s Let’s Sing Reading were The Barberettes, Calcot Junior School Choir, and Sing For Fun. They will all be teaming up for the NHS Christmas Concert. This takes place on Friday, December 8, in Reading Minster Church.
The Biscuit Factory on Queens Walk will host a Christmas Craft Shop on Saturday, December 9 – and that afternoon, The Hexagon will launch Sleeping Beauty, which stars CBeebies legend Justin Fletcher alongside Paul Morse.
There will be more festive fun thanks to Reading Rep Theatre on Kings Road. The group will be performing two shows this Christmas: It’s a Wonderful Life and Potted Panto
Other events include the Civic Carol Service, Terry’s Reading Walkabouts at The Blade, Calypso and Carols by RASPO at Broad Street Mall, Christmas Characters on Broad Street, Seasonal Singing with the Family Choir Club and delightful stories shared by Mrs. Christmas and the Reading Children’s Book Group.
Already open is the popular Reading Winter Wonderland, which has returned to Hills Meadow. Once again, it features an ice-skating rink and fun fair rides as well as an apres ski bar. It runs until Sunday, January 7.
And on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas will be making a special appearance in Reading town centre between noon and 2pm as he seeks out those last-minute stocking fillers.
To help people who are helping Santa, a special festive website has been created setting out Christmas shopping hours for The Oracle, Broad Street Mall, M&S and John Lewis.
This can be accessed at: visit-reading.com/Christmas
The social media hashtag for the town’s festive season is: #ChristmasInReading
