The Stars and Moon will dance & parade together in our night time show of lights in this years Christmas Cheers Lantern Procession. We will have live music from Bridport’s inclusive dance theatre company The Shoe Chorus.
This magical Lantern Procession will leave at 5.10pm from Barrack Street through Bucky Doo Square and parade with true winter sparkle on into Borough Gardens where our beautiful, community handmade lanterns will light up Borough Gardens for a short public Performance by No Limits, “We are Star Stuff”. The procession promises creations inspired by Winter Skies, with its very own beautiful Queen of Winter Constellations, a group made giant lantern the Cosmic Moon Bird made in public workshops with a flock of 30 smaller moon birds, made by year 4 children at St Marys school to accompany its flight through town bringing magical star dust and wishes to the crowds. Other schools involved in the procession are Symondsbury and Loders Schools, Bridport Connect Day Centre & the general public who attended this years community workshops in the Town Hall.
The Procession and Workshops are led by Community Artist Mickey Bonome who says ”There is so much creativity going on this year, the children at the schools participating this year have made some beautiful lanterns .. The theme of ‘Winter Skies’ is to compliment our exciting collaboration this year with Community Performance Group ‘No Limits’ and the procession ending with their public performance is sure to provide everyone with a truly magical evening .. Don’t miss it !!” If you would like to make a lantern and be involved in this years procession, the last public workshop is at the Town Hall at 10.30 – 2.30 on Saturday 30th November, where Mickey will show you how to make traditional (and not so traditional) withy and paper lanterns to process and keep to take home afterwards.
Please book with the tourist information centre to ensure your place. Make sure you follow the lantern procession through the town, to enjoy a free short performance which will sprinkle a little more mystery and magic into the evening’s celebrations in Borough Gardens Director of No Limits Anna Golding says ‘It has been a real treat to make a street theatre show with illuminated dancers of all abilities who will bring light and hope into darkest part of the year.’ “We Are Star Stuff ” choreographed by Anna Golding and No Limits members, Costumes & Props by Mickey Bonome & Music by Andrew Dickson and Robert Lee This will finish in time to see Father Christmas arrive in Bucky Doo Square at 6pm.
See You Then !! Mickey and The Christmas Cheer Team x
Christmas is coming and Bridport is ready!
The whole town, surrounding villages and visitors to the area are invited to attend the popular Christmas Cheer evening taking place in 2019 on Wednesday 4th December from 4pm-8pm. The FREE community event has something for all the family to enjoy. With lots of festive entertainment, it is a time to get in the Christmas mood, find that special Christmas gift and join in the merriment!
- Carol singing by local Schools
- Christmas Cheer magical lantern Procession will leave at 5.10pm from Barrack Street through Bucky Doo Square and parade onto Borough Gardens where our beautiful, community made lanterns will light up Borough Gardens for a public Performance by No Limits, “We are Star Stuff”. Lanterns have been made by Community Artist Mickey Bonome with children from St Marys Bridport, Symondsbury and Loders Schools, Bridport Connect Day Centre & the general public who attended this years community town workshops. The procession promises creations inspired by Winter Skies, with our very own Queen of Winter Constellations, group made Cosmic Moon Bird and many more. No Limits ” We Are Star Stuff ” choreographed by Anna Golding and No Limits members, Costumes & Props by Mickey Bonome & Music by Andrew Dickson and Robert Lee. This will finish in time to see Father Christmas arrive in Bucky Doo Square at 6pm.
- A free gift will be given to every child that visits Father Christmas in Santa’s Grotto, outside the Art Centre (kindly sponsored by Toymaster and Groves Nursery)
- In Bucky Doo Square, outside The Bull Hotel and the Ropemakers there will be non-stop live music from local performers
- Dance performances inside the Electric Palace and The Borough Gardens
- Many shops open for late night shopping
- Make & Take a Christmas Decoration activity for children, carol singers, storytellers and poetry readings at the LSi in East Street.
- Bridport Museum will be running a raffle, offering refreshments and mince pies, and demonstrating how to make rope from 4pm-7pm
- Town Businesses will be open offering season refreshments
- Over 30 stalls- local market traders, food producers and street food lining West, East and South Street
- The town’s hospitality outlets will be full of Christmas Cheer and good food!
- Throughout December in the afternoon there will be 2 hours free car parking in short stay car parks
- A Big Thank You to Framptons Butchers for Sponsoring the Buckydoo Stage!
Help Support Local Schools…
Yr9 Business students from The Sir John Colfox Academy will be looking to provide their products that they have been working on in the build up to the busy Christmas period. Students within class have been building their business plans and preparing for their first trading period. They look forward to serving the customers of Bridport for what will be the first time most of these young people have sold a product. Please come and check out what they have been working on and support them.
