What's on at Christmas in Lymington

AN inflatable toboggan ride, children’s amusements and Santa on his sleigh will feature as part of a celebratory series of events being held in Lymington to mark the start of the festive season.

Covid meant the last few occasions have had to be scaled down so the town council, along with local Rotary and Lions clubs and St Thomas’s Church, are holding not one but three brilliant days of Christmas magic this year.

On Friday 25th November the build-up to the Christmas lights switch-on will begin at 4pm with the high street turned into a Christmas card scene with stalls offering mince pies, mulled wine, hot chocolate, cake and candy floss.

There will be many opportunities to buy original Christmas presents from art and craft creators and artisan food and drink producers.

Lymington Choral Society and Priestlands School choir will gather around the tree outside St Thomas’s from 5.30pm to give a musical accompaniment to the switch-on.

The blessing of the crib in the church’s nativity scene is scheduled for 6pm followed by the mayor, Cllr James Hoare, throwing the light switch at 6.15pm.

At 6.30pm the highlight of the night for children will occur when Father Christmas arrives on his sleigh helped by elves from Lymington Rotary club.

Santa will be handing out sweets to lucky kids – and there may even be a few spare for grown-ups.

For the adventurous, young and old, there will be the chance for the first time in the town to slide down a free-to-ride mini inflatable toboggan slide, with the option of a charity donation.

If weather allows, riders will whoosh down the slide on a ring – and the operators warn that you might go faster than you expect, so friends should have a camera on hand to catch the look of surprise or glee.

There will also be plenty of amusement rides for kids who are too little for the toboggan slide, so they will not be disappointed.

All the town’s stores will be open for late-night Black Friday shopping and parking will be free for the day.

Many of the town’s pubs, restaurants and cafes will have Christmas specials on offer so rounding off the evening with a nice meal, or a refreshing drink will be great idea.

On Saturday 10th December the market will be Christmas themed with local traders and shop owners all joining in to make Lymington buzz with festive fun.

New Forest Hospital Radio will be playing cheesy Christmas songs all day in the high street and Santa will be in his sleigh outside Corals bookmaker from 9am- 4pm greeting excited children who will get the chance to tell him just what they want in their stockings.

On Sunday 18th December there will be the ever popular Santa on the Quay organised by Lymington Rotary Club, where the RNLI help bring Father Christmas ashore so he can get on with his present giving.

Last year’s event attracted hundreds of spectators so make sure you get there early to have a chance of meeting Santa who will be arriving around 3pm.

Lymington Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Christmas tree at the quay.

Mayor Cllr Hoare said this year’s festive events will be Lymington’s best ever, adding: “Christmas is a vital time for retailers and those involved in the hospitality sector.

“The pandemic is now hopefully behind us, but we are faced with the new challenge of the cost-of-living crisis.

“I am particularly pleased that 2022 marks the first time since 2019 that we can return to a full programme of supporting all those trading our beautiful High Street.

“I hope that all our traders can enjoy a busy Christmas – they certainly deserve it.”