22 November 2010 The UK’s sunniest place is preparing for a winter wonderland this December with a wealth of festivities to choose from including the brand new Christmas Shout mass community sing-along.
Christmas will wave its magic wand over Eastbourne town centre from Friday 3rd December when Little Christmas returns to Little Chelsea celebrating the independent business in Grove Road and South Street and brand new for 2010, inviting visitors and residents to take part in Christmas Shout, a mass sing-along outside the Town Hall.
Children and adults can start practicing now ready to belt out popular festive tunes Jingle Bells, Merry Christmas (Slade) and Silent Night, before enjoying late night shopping and the chance to meet Santa Claus and his reindeers on the night.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “Wow, Christmas is really shaping up to be extra special in Eastbourne this year with plenty of activities on offer to really feel in the festive mood! Little Christmas was a brilliant new event last year and we are very excited to be welcoming it back to Little Chelsea again this year and kicking off the St Wilfrid’s Christmas Magic Weekend. With this year’s fabulous Cinderella pantomime and of course, the popular Bandstand festive concerts, there is lots going on in Eastbourne over Christmas making the resort a great destination for a festive getaway!”
The Christmas celebration continues in Eastbourne town centre on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December with a bumper weekend filled with a bigger and better line up than ever before, all in aid of St Wilfrid’s Hospice. Sovereign FM will be entertaining crowds throughout the weekend with mall performers, choirs and a brand new live music stage.
Father Christmas will lead his reindeer from the seafront to the Enterprise Centre on Saturday morning with presents on offer for the children and mulled wine and mince pies for the adults.
Eastbourne is filled with gift inspiration too this year. From a new Christmas Continental Market in the town centre over the Christmas Magic Weekend to VisitEastbourne.com’s online shop packed with spa experiences, unique clothing, local artwork and gift-wrapped membership to Towner, the town’s award-winning art gallery, visitors and residents will find it easy to complete their Christmas shopping.
For a festive experience with a difference, Haunted Experiences are staging Ghosts of Christmas Past Tours on 3rd and 4th December offering visitors a journey into the past exploring the old streets of Eastbourne and hearing haunting tales of ghostly carol singers and phantom carriages. Tours can be booked online from VisitEastbourne.com.
Or opt for something a little more energetic with a powerboat trip or family quadricycle ride. Take to the winter shores with a powerboat experience courtesy of Sussex Voyages where visitors can jump aboard their custom built RIB at Sovereign Harbour for special Christmas and New Year sailings. And along the seafront at Fisherman’s Green, Ride N Joy are holding a Christmas Special quadricycle hire weekend on 11th and 12th December with discounted rates and festive decorations.
The Bandstand will continue a tradition of over 75 years as it opens for a special Christmas and Boxing Day celebration with thousands of revellers expected to enjoy the free concerts from Eastbourne Silver Band and The Ray Campbell Dance Band for two mornings of traditional Christmas entertainment.
And Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park Theatre is getting ready to spread a little festive cheer with Cinderella marking its 10th year of in-house pantomime and promising dazzling special effects and one truly amazing carriage from 10 December – 16 January 2011.
With other events taking place in and around Eastbourne, including Santa’s Christmas Cottage at Drusillas Zoo where the kids can watch the elves hard at work, and the chance to jump aboard the Santa Special Steam Train at Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway; visitors will be spoilt for choice planning a Christmas break in Eastbourne.
The town’s wide range of hotels, guesthouses and self-catering accommodation are offering plenty of deals for Christmas too making it a great time to relax and rejuvenate with fresh sea air and a bumper programme of entertainment. Go to the VisitEastbourne website to browse and book festive breaks online.
For more information on what’s going on in Eastbourne this Christmas or for gift inspiration visit the VisitEastbourne website or call 0871 663 0031.
