Selsey celebrates major Christmas event as crowds fill up high street

Selsey high street drew big crowds for the annual Community Christmas Event.

The event, held on 29 November, was organised entirely by volunteers who dedicated their spare time to planning and staging the festivities.

They were supported on the ground by community road marshals whose efforts ensured the celebrations could go ahead safely. Chichester MP Jess Brown Fuller also attended and spent part of the evening volunteering as a road marshal.

This year’s Christmas tree was donated by Avosoton Home Care, whose team joined the countdown to the light up alongside Gordon, a client who celebrated his 100th birthday this year.

Sponsorship from a wide range of local businesses helped fund the wider event, including the Byrne Family Foundation, Cove Communities, Selsey Town Council Event Grant, Trident, Knights Fencing, SFABS, Selsey Local Roofing, Morley and Sons and further contributions from other High Street traders.

Visitors were met with a full programme of entertainment throughout the day. The Grinch made an appearance alongside an iced fairy bubbleologist, candy cane characters, illuminated winged stilt walkers, a caricaturist and face painter.

Music came from Hampshire’s Swan Samba and Duo Steel Pan, while families queued for Santa’s Grotto and gathered at the main stage for performances from Medmerry School Choir, Joy of Singing Choir, Arabesque Performing Arts, Selsey Shanty Men, Selsey Molls and the Cloud Nine Panto crew.

The evening closed with Christmas carols from the Cloud Nine cast before the tree light up drew the crowd together for the final countdown.

All generations of the community turned out in force and organisers said the strong attendance showed the value of local support and volunteer commitment in bringing the High Street to life for the start of the festive season.