Christmas tree festival returns

Thursday, 17 November 2022 00:00

The ever-popular Decorated Tree Festival returns to St Thomas's Church in Salisbury again this year.

Christmas is a special time, and St Thomas’s Church in Salisbury is once again holding its Decorated Tree Festival. One of the biggest and best-attended events of its type in the UK, the Festival opens on Tuesday, 29th November, and runs through to Sunday, December 4th. Entry is free.

Up to 100 decorated trees and nativity scenes will be on display, all submitted from enthusiastic individuals, businesses, charities, and schools across South Wiltshire. All will be provided to raise money for our nominated charities.

This year Alzheimer’s Support Salisbury and Friends of Salisbury Shopmobility are the featured causes, and every year, the festival makes a substantial contribution to local charities. Last year over 9,000 visitors to the festival contributed over £13,000 to charity!

Every year visitors are amazed and inspired by the heart-warming creativity and ingenuity on view and how this evokes a true reflection on the real meaning of Christmas. As a musical backdrop to this joyous occasion, a continuous programme of festive music is provided by leading local groups, choirs, soloists and bands. To satisfy the taste buds, seasonal treats and snacks are available from the St Thomas’s catering team.

Year after year, many people, whether residents, regional visitors, or tourists from further afield, make a special point of visiting the festival, and for them, it has become an unmissable date for their festive diary.

The Christmas Tree Festival is a notable start to a wonderful season of celebration at St Thomas’s. On December 18th, the church choir will hold its traditional ‘Carols by Candlelight service. The extremely popular “Carols for busy people” is held on 21st December from 1.10 pm and on 23rd December there is the Family and Children’s Christingle Service. This Festive period culminates with Midnight Mass on 24th December and the family service on Christmas Day.

Details of these events are available on www.stthomassalisbury.co.uk