Nearly every town and village in Somerset is brightly lit for Christmas and all sorts of Somerset-made gifts are available at markets, festivals and during late-night shopping
Town centres all across Somerset will be pulling out the stops this Christmas, with dazzling light displays and magical late night shopping events. In Taunton, the annual switch-on celebrations take place over one amazing weekend of 19-21 November, beginning with the return of the three-day international market. There is late night shopping until 9pm every Thursday until Christmas, starting on 25 November. tauntontowncentre.co.uk
Enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful cities while working your way through your Christmas shopping list. Bath is home to many small independent shops as well as famous big names. For ideas go to visitbath.co.ukBridgwater will be spreading some seasonal spirit during its Snowflakes and Shopping event in the town centre from 4pm on 24 November, featuring the official lights switch-on by Beccy Huxtable, Assistant Producer on Radio 1’s Scott Mills show.Christmas comes to Burnham-on-Sea on 27 November with an afternoon of entertainment and the lights switch-on event in Victoria Street with Total Star radio presenters Ian and Laura. Scrooge and Tiny Tim are the guests of honour when they open a magical Victorian Evening in Castle Cary on 9 December, 5.30pm-8.30pm.More lights have been added to the decorations in Chard this year, where the switch-on takes place on 26 November. The fun starts at 5.30pm and includes Father Christmas and the majorettes. A brass band, town crier, majorettes and Midwest Radio will be on hand to entertain shoppers at the Crewkerne lighting-up events on 26 November from 5.30pm.The medieval village of Dunster turns its back on the present and lights its streets with candles for Christmas. Enjoy the traditional ambience at Dunster by Candlelight on 3 December, 5pm-9pm and 4 December, 4pm-9pm. dunsterbycandlelight.co.ukThroughout December until Twelfth Night, Dulverton is transformed into a twinkling delight of white lights and Christmas trees, beginning at 2.30pm on 5 December. dulvertonbystarlight.co.ukThe Glastonbury Frost Fair features bands, stalls, carols and events from 11am to 8pm on 11 December, plus a parade with reindeer. The new Glastonbury Abbey shop will be turned into a Christmas shop for the season. Join in the pre-Christmas fun in Ilminster where the shops stage their Victorian Evening on 19 November. The Meeting House craft shop will be open for mince pies and warming mulled wine!Fireworks, storytelling, stalls and Father Christmas are just some of the attractions at the Langport Events Group Christmas Fair on 4 December in the Town Square from 11am to 4pm.The picturesque village of Martock is home to Yandles’ large hobbies and crafts centre – ideal for those making homemade gifts and decorations this year.An all-day farmers’ market, late night shopping and Santa’s Grotto are planned for the Minehead Christmas Lights switch-on event, from 4pm on 26 November.The festive fun starts in Nailsea at 5.30pm on 3 December when the traditional Christmas Fair comes to town, including nearly 40 stalls, street artists and funfair rides.The Christmas lights are switched on in Portishead at 6.30pm on 29 November and on 10 December shops on the High Street will open until 9.30pm for a Victorian Evening.Father Christmas will join in the fun at Shepton Mallet’s late night shopping event and lights’ ceremony starting at 4.30pm on 3 December.Somerton will be dressed in all its sparkling finery from 4.30pm on 4 December. Keep up with events in this busy town on somerton.co.ukStep Into Christmas is a traditional celebration to kick-start the countdown to the season in Street. The event on 4 December will include live music, entertainment, a craft fair and food stalls in the town, which has a high proportion of independent retailers in the High Street as well as the famous Clarks Village.Wedmore comes alive on 8 December when the shops are open from 6pm to 9pm for Wedmore by Lamplight. Enjoy a pig roast and visit Santa.A traditional spectacle is on offer for this year’s celebrations in Wellington on 27 November. There will be a special visit from ‘Mary’, ‘Joseph’ and donkey and pupils from Wellington School will perform the switching-on ceremony at 5.30pm. The fifth Rotary Reindeer Parade takes place on 5 December in Wells, starting in the Market Place at 1pm. Attractions in the city will include a silver band, pig roast, a performance from Cathedral boy choristers and a grotto in the Swan Hotel.Peppa Pig will delight young spectators by turning on the lights in the Sovereign Centre in Weston-super-Mare at 5.30pm on 25 November. The winner of the Town Mayor’s raffle turns on the rest of the High Street Christmas lights that evening.Famous for its racecourse, Wincanton is also a popular shopping destination in south Somerset. Buy your food and drink from local producers at the Farmers’ Market on 3 December from 9am to 12 noon at The Memorial Hall.Santa switches on the Wiveliscombe Christmas lights at 6pm on 8 December in the Rotary Club’s traditional event with brass band, mulled wine and roast chestnuts.Two town centre events are planned for Yeovil this year – the Christmas lights ceremony on 25 November and a family day of activities on 19 December.
