Aiming for new heights (From Malvern Gazette)

Aiming for new heights

1:12pm Friday 14th September 2007 in Letters

ON behalf of the Great Malvern Association of Traders and the Christmas committee I would like to respond to last week's article regarding the changes to the festivities in the town centre and soothe any fears your readers may have.

This year, Christmas in Malvern will be an entirely different creature. In response to the successes, failures and feedback of past years' events, the Christmas committee (made up of town council members, district council officers, community groups, individuals and traders) have been busy planning this year's celebrations since February.

We have taken the brave decision to raise Malvern's event to new heights and new standards. The modern fair is to be replaced with a host of exciting attractions, aimed at welcoming the entire family, young and old, into Malvern.

The Christmas lights switch-on night on November 30 will be an enticing winter wonderland, full of classic Christmas atmosphere. There will be real reindeer, and Santa has promised he will visit us, and while waiting for him there will be free entertainment from carol singers, musicians and street theatre and there will be village fete-style games for everyone to enjoy. Festive food and drink, such as mince pieces, hog roasts and mulled wine will delight your taste buds. A spectacular lantern parade is being created by a collaboration of artists and the children of the schools of Malvern, and the town will be filled with stalls selling goodies and treats, special offers in the shops, and lots lots more.

Not only will these things happen on the switch-on night, but there is an entire programme of events planned for every Saturday (December 1, 8, 15 and 22) in December. This includes quality arts and crafts fairs, fireworks displays, concerts, farmers markets, skateboarding (yes skateboarding!) in the Priory grounds, live music, children's face painting, present wrapping services, street entertainment, and food and gift stalls.

We really have some great surprises up our Christmas sleeves, the likes of which Malvern has never seen before! So when it comes to Malvern's Christmas festivities, as they say, the proof of the (Christmas) pudding is in the eating.

Here's looking forward to celebrating a very merry Christmas with you all in the heart of our vibrant town centre. Personally, I can't wait.

Anna Brook, vice-chair Great Malvern Association of Traders.