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Epsom’s lights switch-on event kick starts the countdown to Christmas
Hundreds of residents and shoppers joined in Epsom’s Christmas lights switch on event at the Market Place on Thursday 19 November. With a little help from Santa, the Frozen princesses – Elsa and Anna, Olaf, Stuart the Minion, the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell, Councillor Chris Frost switched on the Christmas Tree and Clock Tower lights at the Market Place at 7pm.
For one night only, Santa took residence in the Grotto in the Clock Tower to the delight of over 230 children who queued up to meet him, receive a candy cane and capture the memory with a photograph. There was plenty of family entertainment on offer throughout the evening with performances from Epsom Primary School choir, Stagecoach, Big Act Theatre School, Show choir, Rock choir and live music from Barcoda Party Band Set along with children’s characters – the Frozen Princesses - Elsa and Anna, Olaf and Stuart the Minion. Stalls selling festive food and treats and children's fairground rides including a Ferris Wheel, Giant Snow Globe and Soft Play Party Bus proved to be popular attractions.
Entrance to Santa's Grotto, the Giant Snow Globe and Soft Play Party Bus were all free with donations to local charity, Moment-um. The attractions raised £665 on the night for Moment-um; who are fundraising for a fully equipped play room for long stay children at the Casey Ward at Epsom Hospital.
Highlights included, Chrissie Crafts with handmade gifts; regular Market traders Lee and Joe who offered sweets and Christmas goodies, a Thai style Tuk Tuk provided free samples from The Kings Arms and Metro Bank with Metro Man. Other businesses who took part in the festive fun included, Café Picola, The Canopy, Flaming Wheel Indian Cuisine, Seoul Plaza, The Green Machine, KT Partnership and TWM Solicitors. Epsom Methodist Church provided arts and crafts activities, local charity Moment-um with their Owl mascot offered face painting and a teddy tombola along with Disney characters Cinderella and Belle and roaming elves from Santa Claus and The Night Before Christmas show at the Epsom Playhouse added to the Christmas sparkle.
The Council would like to thank The Best of Epsom for sponsoring Santa's Grotto; Hayley Dyer for the Grotto decorations; What’s On In Epsom for contributing towards the Giant Snow Globe; our partners for Epsom’s Four Days of Christmas – So Lippy for organising the Upper High Street Christmas Fun event on Friday 20 November and all the various local businesses that took part in Epsom’s Four Days of Christmas.
Christmas festivities continue across Epsom & Ewell:
Ewell
Friday 4 December, 4pm onwards: Ewell Yule – Ewell Village
Shops in the village will be open late, with some offering mulled wine, mince pies and other Christmas goodies. Local children and adults will sing carols and there will be family attractions throughout the village. This year, the popular treasure hunt will be based on an advent calendar produced by St Mary’s Brownies. Inside each participating shop a letter can be found to solve the treasure hunt slogan. The 24th poster and letter will be unveiled at the service at St Mary’s Church on Christmas eve.
Stoneleigh
Friday 4 December, 4pm onwards: Lights on Broadway – Stoneleigh Broadway
Lots of family entertainment including Santa's Grotto, carol singing, performances from local dance studios, hot food and festive drinks, late night shopping, clog dancing, stalls and more.
Sunday 13 December – Sunday 3 January: Beauty and the Beast at Epsom Playhouse
This re-telling of the enchanting classic story is full of fun, music and panto magic!
Thursday 17 December, 11.30am: Christmas Memorial Service at Epsom Cemetery Chapel
A non-religious service for all those who would like to remember lost loved ones as Christmas approaches.
Saturday 19 December; 10am - 12noon: Christmas Carolling with the Mayor at The Ashley Centre, Epsom
The Mayor will be joined by other civic dignitaries singing carols and Christmas songs in The Ashley Centre in aid of the Mayor’s charities – please come along and join in!
Sunday 20 December, 2pm: Peace Light – The Ashley Centre, Epsom
Each year, a child fetches the Peace Light from the grotto in Bethlehem, the site of Christ’s birth, and it’s transported to Scouts and Guides who distribute the light across Europe. Celebrity Jimmy White MBE will be one of the local residents who will welcome the Peace Light to Epsom. Everyone is invited to the short multi-faith ceremony which has been organised in The Ashley Centre in partnership with the Council, 7th Epsom Methodist Scout Group, Churches Together in Epsom, the Hindu Community and the Bahá'í Community.
Free Sunday Parking in the run up to Christmas
Free parking on Sundays in the run up to Christmas in central Epsom Council run car parks: To support local traders and help residents with Christmas shopping, parking in - the Ashley Centre, Town Hall, Hope Lodge, Depot Road and Upper High Street car parks will be free on Sunday’s 6, 13, and 20 December.
To view the list of community events taking place across the Borough in the run up to Christmas visit the Spotlight section in the latest issue of e-Borough Insight at http://insight.epsom-ewell.gov.uk
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