2023 Christmas lights switch-ons in New Milton, Lymington, Christchurch, Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Lyndhurst, Milford and Totton
TOWNS and villages across the New Forest and Christchurch are preparing to bring some festive cheer to the dark nights as they switch on their Christmas lights.
Lymington
Lymington will become the first to illuminate their streets, with an official switch-on ceremony in the High Street on Friday 24th November at 6.15pm.
From 4pm visitors can enjoy amusements and rides as well as purchasing items from a variety of food and drink stalls.
The Lymington Choral Society will be performing outside St. Thomas’s Church from 5.40pm ahead of a crib blessing at 6pm.
Following the official switch-on, Santa will arrive on his sleigh at 6.30pm to hand out sweets to children.
New Milton
New Milton will hold a Christmas festival and carnival parade between 11.30am and 5pm on Saturday 25th November, with stalls and street food along Station Road and a French market in Old Milton Road.
Organised by the Lions Club of New Milton, the event will also include live entertainment in Ashley Road, a window dressing competition and funfair.
The parade will take place at 4pm before the official lights switch-on at 5pm.
For more details visit www.newmiltonlions.org.uk
Christchurch
Christchurch Town Council is also hosting its Christmas extravaganza on Saturday, which includes live music, a festive market featuring gift and craft stalls and hot and cold refreshments.
Taking place between the High Street and Saxon Square, there will also be a funfair, face painting and high octane urban bike displays on a purpose-built rig.
Live entertainment will feature headline act 6 To The Bar, DJ Jay Rachet from Hot Radio, Sound of Soul Choir and Minky Moos.
Hush Club will also be on the High Street bringing the party energy ahead of the switching on the lights at 5.30pm by mayor, Cllr Viv Charrett.
She said: “I think this will be a fantastic year where Christmas will truly be celebrated throughout the Christchurch area.
“The snowflake-theme lights are particularly fantastic.
“It will be truly amazing and I hope to see everyone there.”
A full programme for the day can be found at www.christchurch-tc.gov.uk
Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst will be joining the celebrations on Saturday, with Saints legend Matt Le Tissier set to carry out the task outside The Mailman’s Arms at 6pm.
There will be live music from 5.30pm and fireworks after the switch-on.
Ringwood
The Ringwood Winter Wanderland returns to the town on Sunday from 11.30am and will include a market with over 70 stalls along the High Street and Market Place.
A charity bar, run by the Ringwood and District Roundtable, will be in Market Place where there will also be live entertainment and small funfair.
Street entertainment includes performances from the Ringwood and Burley Band
Following its successful run last year, a miniature polar express steam train will provide rides along Southampton Road, and children can learn circus skills in Gateway Square.
Father Christmas will be in his grotto at Ringwood Gateway from midday, Tickets, which cost £5, can be bought in advance from the town council offices.
The big man in red will also appear in two parades, the first of which leaves the town centre car park at 11.30am.
He will drop into the Furlong Shopping Centre before making his way around the town centre.
The second parade leaves at 5.45pm, with his arrival at 6pm in Market Place in time for the lights switch-on.
The popular Christmas window competition begins on Monday, with 32 entries this year.
Members of the public are asked to vote for their favourite.
For more information about the event, including a map for window competition locations, visit www.ringwood.gov.uk/events/ringwood-winter-wanderland
Fordingbridge
Fordingbridge’s switch-on will take place next Friday 1st December, with performances from soprano Poppy Neame from 5pm.
At 5.30pm there will be a lantern parade, featuring Father Christmas’s train, and music from Sing Space choir before the lights are officially turned on in Market Place at 6pm.
Avonway Community Centre will host a Santa’s grotto between 6.30pm and 8pm.
For more information visit www.fordingbridge.gov.uk/christmas-lights-switch-on
Milford
Also lighting up on 1st December will be Milford, with carols on the village green from 6pm.
The village will be transformed into a winter wonderland with a forest of enchanted trees and lit reindeer. The High Street will be closed from Boots to the Coastal Bakery.
Totton
In Totton, the annual lantern parade will take place on Sunday 3rd December, with a street market and funfair from 2pm.
The procession, which sets off at 5pm, will see hundreds of residents carry lanterns along Salisbury Road to the town’s main roundabout beside Asda where the Christmas lights will be officially switched on.
Only those who have made lanterns at an official public workshop are eligible to take part.
For details of the workshops visit www.facebook.com/xmaslanternparade or email caroline.rackham@googlemail.com
