A FESTIVE light trail will be spreading Christmas cheer in Reading this December.
The Twilight Trail: Biscuit Town will return to the Abbey Ruins and Forbury Gardens from Friday, December 3 until Friday, December 31.
After making its debut in the borough last year, selling over £12,000 tickets, the fully accessible, open-air light trail experience is open to all ages.
Set up by Reading UK, Abbey Quarter BID and sponsored by The Blade, this year’s theme celebrates Reading’s old nickname of Biscuit Town.
Named after Hunley and Palmer’s beginnings in London Street, 1822, the pair went on to create the world’s biggest biscuit factory in the town.
The lighting will be created by light art pioneers, Luminisim, and will include The Lion’s Roar and the Production Line stepping stones.
And playwright Helen Eastman, from Reading Rep’s The Nutcracker, is also getting involved to create a winter wonderland.
Reading Museum will provide biscuit-related merchandise and WePop, the team behind Reading’s Après Ski pop-up, will offer food, drink and chalet bars.
And on Wednesday, December 8, homeless charity Launchpad is set to present Carols at the Abbey, as part of the trail.
With a special guest performance from BBC’s Gospel Choir of the Year 2019 winners, Reading Community Gospel Choir.
Proceeds from tickets sold for this evening will be donated to Launchpad, to support homeless people in Reading.
The trail comes as part of Reading UK’s Christmas in Reading Campaign, which is encouraging residents to make the most of the town centre over the festive season.
Reading UK’s Zsuzsi Lindsay said: “We had such a wonderful response to last year’s Trail, so we are delighted to be back even brighter this year.
“With Huntley and Palmers starting off with a small shop and then putting the town on the global map and supplying biscuits to Queen Victoria and Napoleon, they seemed the perfect inspiration – and who doesn’t love biscuits?”
Booking is now open via the What’s On Reading website.
Tickets cost £8 for adults, £6 for children and £26 for a family pass.
For more details, follow @twilight_trail on Instagram, or log on to: whatsonreading.com
