The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Holbeach is due to be alive with festive attractions on the first weekend in December as two Christmas events get under way.
Charity fundraiser Les Ward has formed a new committee to see the return of a Christmas street parade, market and fairground on Sunday, December 4.
Meanwhile, organisers of Holbeach St Nicholas Fayre, which sees stalls and entertainment in and around All Saints’ Church, will be running their third event on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday.
Les said: “I do a lot of fundraising for charities and somebody said to me ‘how about doing something for Holbeach?’
“It has been a lot of work but I’m really proud of what we have planned.”
A committee of 12 has worked throughout this year to generate plans for a street parade setting off at 1pm, going first along Church Street then on to High Street.
It is due to include a marching band, musicians from University Academy Holbeach, tots from Small Saints Pre-School, St Nicholas Singers and Father Christmas, who will have a grotto near the church.
There is due to be a total of 40 street stalls selling crafts, gifts and festive treats such as roasted chestnuts, plus refreshments, including a hog roast. And there will be a fairground on St John’s Road car park.
Donations to allow the event have included £1,000 from Holbeach charity shop Chosen. A road closure has been applied for between 6am and 6pm.
Mr Ward (72), of Willders Garth, Holbeach, has raised tens of thousands of pounds for causes including Holbeach Town Band, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and Holbeach Women’s Institute Hall.
Holbeach St Nicholas Fayre, which launched in 2014 when the previous Holbeach Christmas Fayre committee folded, will include a Victorian roundabout this year and a Gluhwein stall, selling traditional German mulled wine.
Jane Francis, chairman of the organising committee, said: “There’ll always be something to listen to, something to watch and something to buy!”
The event will include singing and music, up to 30 stalls in and around the church with crafts, hampers, jams and homemade chocolates on offer, 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday.
At 4pm on Sunday there will be a Christingle service followed outside by the switching on of the Christmas tree lights.
