Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival 2023 – our 19th one!
November 24th – December 23rd
Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival is a community event by the community and for the community. The Church provides the trees and the lights and then they are decorated by different local groups. The creativity and the standard amazes us each year. We have a big church and so ask the decorators to think big and they do. We love it and hope you will too.
Opening Ceremony – Friday 24th November 6pm. Doors open 5.45pm.
Lights switched on by John and Katherine Rednall.
Katherine Rednall, a former Stowmarket High School pupil, is five times Women’s World Indoor Bowls Singles champion and reigning champion. She recently returned from the Gold Coast, Australia, having won a bronze medal in the Women’s World Outdoor Singles. She will be joined by her father John Rednall, who is England’s longest serving and most capped international. He is a World bronze medalist and is a former all England Indoor Singles Champion. John represented England a record 101 times and played bowls for England for 31 years.
So do come along to the opening ceremony and give your support for Stowmarket’s own champions.
Setting up the Festival – We will take the Christmas trees out of storage and set them up from 11.30am on Sunday 12th November. Offers of help on that Sunday and for the following 10 days will be gratefully received. A hot dog lunch will be provided for volunteers on the 12th. If you have booked to decorate a tree, you will receive an email about decorating it.
Christmas Tree Festival opening times – Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 3pm
We will also be open for Stowmarket Christmas Fayre on Sunday 26th November 11am – 4pm
What will I see? – a church lit up and filled with Christmas trees beautifully decorated by different groups, schools, charities, businesses and organisations as well as families and individuals.
This year’s theme for the Christmas trees – Christmas Carols
Number of trees – about 300 trees
Refreshments – Osier Café will be open as usual serving breakfasts and lunches as well as snacks and cakes. All the food is home cooked and sourced locally where possible.
Toilet facilities – We have a toilet suitable for wheelchair users and baby changing facilities within the Church.
Children – A quiz for children to do as they go around the Church and look at the trees is available. There is a well equipped area for children to play. They must be supervised at all times.
Remembering a loved one – There are Christmas trees where you can remember a loved one no longer with us by hanging their name on a tree. We also have a tree dedicated to those who were stillborn, miscarried or aborted and trees to hang prayers on.
Entrance charge – We do not charge to see the trees although we suggest a donation of £2 per adult. Cash can be put in the boxes or you can donate electronically by card.
For Sale – Items for sale include Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations, new items, books, cards, DVDs, CDs, soft toys and jigsaws.
Live Music – There will be groups and people playing a variety of instruments at various times throughout the Christmas Tree Festival to help make your visit extra special.
Group visits – If you would like to bring a group of people to see the trees and have refreshments in Osier Café, please contact the office to book a day and time. Tel 01449 774652 or email ctf@stowmarketparishchurch.co.uk We regularly welcome groups from schools, residential homes, coach parties, office outings etc
Stewards – If you are able to act as Stewards and welcome visitors, as part of the team, to our Christmas Tree Festival in Church please get in touch. You will be required to attend a meeting beforehand where the role and everything you need to know is explained. Each Stewarding session is for two hours and volunteers find it fun and very rewarding.
Decorated Christmas trees, as part of Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival, can also be found in Maxwell Brown Independent Property Agents Maxwell Brown Independent Property Agents | Sales & Letting East Anglia (maxwellbrownea.co.uk) in Ipswich Street and in the gardens at Red Gables Home – Red Gables in Ipswich Road.
If you would like to be part of next year’s Christmas Tree Festival please get in touch via ctf@stowmarketparishchurch.co.uk
Dismantling the Festival – 1st and 2nd of January 10am – 12noon 2024. If you have decorated a tree, you will receive an email with more details. We would also welcome people to help take the trees down and put them into storage for next year.
We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all those who have decorated a tree and helped to make Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival such a wonderful place to visit. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to be a Steward and the team who work behind the scenes all year.
