Christmas is coming
You will have already seen Christmas decorations being put up across the Borough and it is not long until the lights are switched on.
In Bedford there will be a Christmas event in Harpur Square and along Midland Road on Saturday 19th November. There will be a host of exciting activities taking place, including live music, free rides for children with Gumbles Amusements and festive food, drink and shopping at a seasonally enhanced Charter Market. Then at 4.30pm in Harpur Square, Mayor Dave Hodgson will be switching on the lights.
The Christmas Town Market will be coming to Bedford on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th December in collaboration with BedfordBID and Made in Bedford. There will be local artists and makers with artisanal gifts and decorations on offer accompanied by festive cheer provided by local bands and choirs. There will also be free train rides between Silver Street Square and Midland Road on the Love Bedford Express. Gumbles Amusements will once again be returning to offer free rides for children and Santa's Grotto will be taking place in the Harpur Centre.
The Kempston lights switch on will take place on Sunday 27th November. There will be Christmas music, stalls, children's rides and entertainment from 12pm and the lights will be switched on at 5pm.
There will be a number of other Christmas light switch on events across the Borough, please do keep an eye on village and parish Facebook groups and community newsletters.
The ever popular Christmas Tree Festival will be returning to St Paul's Church in Bedford from Wednesday 30th November until Sunday 4th December. This year's theme is 'Musicals' and you can find out more about this event at https://www.facebook.com/bedfordchristmastreefestival
From 1st December, Bedford Borough Council will also be sharing daily activities that you can take part in with their Christmas Advent Calendar, so be sure to follow their social media channels to get ideas for some magical merry adventures.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bedfordboroughcouncil
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BedfordTweets
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bedfordboroughcouncil/
For those starting to think about Christmas shopping, please do visit some - or all - of our wonderful independent shops and businesses. You can find a handy map from Explore Bedford here.
Finally it is not too late to enter Mayor Dave's Christmas Card competition for primary school aged children, we have extended the deadline by a few days to Friday 18th November. When the children have finished their drawings, please write the following details on the back of each picture: name, age, class and school name. Home-schooled children are also welcome to join in and put 'home-schooled' instead of the class and school name. Please send entries to Mayor Dave Hodgson, Bedford Borough Council, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP.