Christmas is coming to Basingstoke with six weekends of entertainment, family activities and festive surprises at Festival Place.
The town centre shopping destination is preparing to launch its Christmas celebrations on Saturday, November 14, with a programme of live performances, children's workshops and seasonal entertainment running every Saturday until December 19.
This year's theme, Where Christmas Comes to Life, will see a changing line-up of performers and activities bringing a little extra Christmas cheer to the centre as shoppers prepare for the festive season.
The celebrations begin with an appearance by the famously bad-tempered Grinch, alongside the Tinseltastic Breakdancers and a ‘Nuts for Nutcrackers’ craft workshop where youngsters can get creative.
Over the following five Saturdays, visitors can expect everything from jugglers and festive choirs to performances by the Nutcracker Brass Band, with plenty of opportunities for children to join in.
Young visitors will be able to write letters to Father Christmas, create snowy suncatchers and decorate their own Christmas baubles, with a different selection of activities and entertainment throughout the six-week programme.
Father Christmas himself will also be taking up residence in his grotto, giving families the chance to meet him and share their Christmas wish lists.
The programme is designed to give families another reason to visit the town centre in the run-up to Christmas, whether combining a shopping trip with some entertainment or simply enjoying an afternoon out.
With the centre's shops, cafés and restaurants also preparing for the festive rush, visitors will be able to make an afternoon or evening of it, browsing for presents, stopping for something to eat and enjoying the seasonal atmosphere.
Festival Place's Christmas celebrations run every Saturday from November 14 to December 19.
Full details of the programme, including individual events and activities, can be found at www.festivalplace.co.uk.
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