All we want for Christmas is you <3
The Christmas Light Switch On is set to take place on Friday 22nd November, 5pm – 7pm. Frome Town Council are inviting residents to join in the festivities by making their own unique lantern for the parade.
This year’s theme is Winter Woodland and it’s your opportunity to get as imaginative as you can. Lantern kits in a variety of sizes are available to purchase from the Town Hall or the Discover Frome Information Point at the Library. If you’d like a bit of direction and guidance, you can find inspiration and advice at www.fromelanterns.co.uk. We also kindly ask that there are no more than two people per lantern during the procession.
Timings for this year’s event
- 5pm: Kicking off Christmas in Frome with Frome Town Band 🎺
- 5:25pm: Seasonal sing-alongs with a twist from The Enrichments 🎶
- 6pm: All time festive favs with Andrew Bourn 🎤
- 6pm: Lantern parade assemble! Meet by St John’s Church (max two people per lantern)
- 6:20pm: And they’re off… lantern parade head off down Bath St, led by the ever-energetic Jamma de Samba 🌟
- 6:40pm: Lantern parade and Jamma de Samba arrive in the Market Place 🕺🏽
- 6:45pm: Mayor Andy Jones switches on the Christmas lights with a little help 🎄
- 6:50pm – 7pm: Samba party continues until the event finishes at 7pm.
- Food and drink vendors will be trading until 7:30pm in the Westway precinct. 🥧
Food and drink vendors
Whilst you’re in town, enjoy festive food and refreshments from a whole host of traders and businesses who will be open for the evening. In the Westway precinct we’ll have hot and cold drinks, mulled wine, festive nibbles, pulled pork, vegan chilli and nachos, Greek wraps, churros and crumpets. A mulled wine stand in the Market Place will keep punters cosy and St John’s Church will have a stall on Bath Street with coffee and hot chocolate to keep parade-goers happy!
Around town, other establishments will be ready and eager to keep you fed and watered:
- The Stores in Frome will be open serving cheeseboards, wine and the mulled kind too – available to takeaway so you can wander round and soak in the seasonal sights!
- Choc et al serving luxurious hot chocolates, cakes and more.
- Flow Bar with takeaway cocktails… what’s not to love!
- Projects for a gingerbread latte or two, plus snacks and sweet treats.
- Green Room will be open, offering up their vegan and organic wines, beers and spirits.
- UK Off License on Bath Street providing delicious hot drinks and cakes.
- Archangel with mulled wine, mince pies and more from their handy location on King Street.
- Neighbour on Cheap Street open until 7pm, offering coffee, tea and cocoa to take away. 🙂
Santa Claus is coming to town
Father Christmas is also coming to town thanks to local charity WHY. You can book a half-hour time slot between 4:30pm and 7:30pm for up to four children to visit Santa in his grotto at the WHY office (opposite Frome Museum). The grotto costs just £4 per child, with a gift and a sweet treat and the money raised at the grotto supports WHY’s vital emotional support services for children, young people and adults who have been affected or bereaved by cancer and life-threatening conditions. Find out more and book your children’s ticket at www.wehearyou.org.uk/fundraising/santas-grotto-at-light-the-night/
We’re so looking forward to Christmas in Frome, and hope to see you there!
Road closure and bus information
Don’t forget that there will road closures in place throughout the town centre from 4pm – 9pm on Friday 22nd November for this event.
Please see Frome Town Council’s website for further information on the road closures – there is a full list of affected roads and timings.
Please also note that buses will be diverted around the road closures and the Cork Street taxi rank will be relocated to Saxonvale. Find the bus and taxi map here.
