Children invited to make festive lanterns during free sessions

CHILDREN are invited to add extra sparkle to this year’s Christmas lights switch on by making festive glow stick lanterns at a series of free workshops being held in community venues across Tamworth next week.

Youngsters will be able to create paper lanterns in the fun after-school sessions hosted by Tamworth’s Community Together CIC between Monday November 9 and Friday November 13.

All participants will then be given a voucher for a free glow stick to light their lanterns which they can collect from Ankerside Shopping Centre on Sunday November 22 - to coincide with Tamworth’s main Christmas lights switch on event.

Lee Bates of Community Together CIC is also leading workshops in several schools with the hope that hundreds of children will bring extra Christmas cheer to the town centre and St Editha’s Square on November 22 by carrying their lanterns as they join in the festivities.

Lee said: “The lantern workshops are a fantastic pre-Christmas activity, where children can use their imagination and lots of sparkling craft materials to decorate their own unique designs.

“It’s something we are sure will help bring extra cheer to the Christmas lights switch on event and get families thinking about the start of the Christmas season in Tamworth.”

Sessions are open to all children aged five to 16 years. Places do not have to be booked in advance, people can just turn up, but all children taking part must be accompanied by an adult.

More information is available by contacting the Community Café via email at [email protected].

Dates of after-school workshops are as follows:

Monday November 9: 3pm-5pm – Amington Community Café, Cornerstone Community Centre, Woodhouse Lane.

Tuesday November 10: 3pm-5pm – Wilnecote Community Café, Wilnecote Youth Centre, New Road.

Tuesday November 10: 3pm-5pm – Belgrave Community Café, Tamworth Community Fire Station, Marlborough Way.

Wednesday November 11: 3pm-5pm – Glascote Community Café, Sacred Heart, Silverlink Road.

Thursday November 12: 3pm-5pm – Belgrave Community Café (session 2), Belgrave Community Fire Station, Marlborough Way.

Friday November 13: 3.30pm-5.30pm – Stonydelph Community Café, St Martin’s Church, Ellerbeck.

Festivities in the 2015 Christmas lights switch on event get underway at 1pm on November 22, ahead of the main event in St Editha’s Square at 5pm.

Activities will take place throughout the town centre, including live music, fairground rides, a festive market, treasure hunt, craft activities in Ankerside Shopping Centre led by Community Together CIC, a nativity under the Town Hall, the St Editha’s Church Christmas Tree Festival, walkabout characters, dance performances and face painting.

Entertainment will again centre around the Touch FM stage in St Editha’s Square, which will feature performances from a range of acts from 2pm, including Urban Fusion Dance Company, Fired Up Theatre, Matilda Pratt, Just Perform, Glen Chevannes and dancers, The Jays and Tamworth Voices.

Young visitors will also enjoy guest appearances from Peppa Pig at intervals throughout the afternoon in Ankerside Shopping Centre and the cheeky piggy will be at the lights switch on alongside Father Christmas.

Last year’s new addition of the Christmas market will return this year, lining George Street with stalls selling Christmas gifts, crafts, novelties, local produce and festive food.

Any businesses or charities interested in booking a stall at the festive market are asked to contact Frances Bragger on 01827 54692, or email [email protected].

Wilnecote St John’s Band will be adding to the atmosphere in George Street by performing traditional Christmas songs throughout the afternoon.

Mayor of Tamworth, Cllr Maureen Gant, said: “The Christmas lights switch-on is yet another popular event in Tamworth’s busy programme of free entertainment and it is now even bigger and better, thanks to the addition of the festive market and a range of activities taking place throughout the town centre.

“It has all the makings of a lovely afternoon out for the whole family and is a great way to start the countdown to Christmas. I look forward to seeing everyone there.”