Rye all set for spectacularChristmas celebration

It is the highlight of a whole month of colourful celebrations and events.

The town will be lit up, windows decorated and carols will ring out from street corners.

Father Christmas will be leading a colourful procession through the streets of the town in a carriage pulled by majestic shire horses.

The jolly old gent will arrive at Strand Quay by boat at around 1pm accompanied by a colourful flotilla before taking to his carriage for a procession around the town at 4pm.

Young drummers will be performing around the town at 3.30pm and a festive farmer’s market will be running on Strand Quay from 1pm.

The procession will include bloco drummers and dancers from Rye College, the Buckswood Pipe Band and children from local primary schools.

The streets will be lit up and decorated by colourful seasonal flags designed by local children thanks to a competition organised by Rye Partnership.

The festival has been a great team effort with Rye Chamber of Commerce joining forces with the new Rye Studio School, Rye Museum, local churches, Rye Partnership and other bodies in the town.

There are events taking pace throughout the whole month, including pop-up street theatre and carol singing.

Rye Partnership have organised a drop and shop facility at Tilling Green Community Centre where parents can do some Christmas Shopping and relax while their children enjoy supervised entertainment.

And to make coming to Rye even more attractive, Rother District Council is waiving the fees at all its car parks in Rye on the three weekends leading up to Christmas.

Father Christmas will be making another appearance in the town on December 14 when he takes up residence in his grotto at Rye Museum.

Rye Tourist Information Centre, at Lion Street, has organised an exciting treasure hunt for children with chocolate prizes to be won.

Many shops in the town are taking part in a Christmas window dressing competition and that is being extended to houses around the town too.

There will also be a grand Christmas Raffle to take part in with some fabulous prizes.

St Mary’s Church at Rye is holding a ‘messy’ Christmas event for kids on Friday December 6 from 4pm - 6pm. It will involved creating, feasting and celebrating.

There are carols by candlelight at Rye Baptist Church, in Cinque Ports Street on December 15 and Ryesingers will be giving a special concert at St Mary’s Church at 7.30pm on Saturday December 7.

The School Creative Centre, at New Road is holding it’s annual Christmas Bizarre event on Saturday with artwork, installations and unique gifts on offer.

For full details visit www.ryechristmas.org.