Santa Claus is coming to town to start Battle’s Christmas

Santa’s sleigh will touch down in the town on Saturday November 24

At 1.50pm his sleigh will make its way down the High Street, pulled by the Langton Loons, and accompanied by the Kingfisher Band and a variety of zany characters from the North Pole.

Between 2.15-4.45pm, Santa will meet children in his sparkling grotto in the Memorial Hall.

Tickets to see him and receive a present are £1.50 each and will be available on the door on the day.

Numbers have to be limited to 200, so come early to avoid disappointment.

Mr Bumble and Crazy Bumble will entertain the queue and keep everyone chuckling while they wait.

Refreshments will be served in the Shephard Room by the ladies of the Saxonwood WI.

A charity market will be upstairs in the recently refurbished Wynne Room.

Outside on the Abbey Green there will be roundabout rides, the Happy Harold open-topped bus and other attractions.

And don’t miss the shop window competition in the Chamber of Commerce Christmas leaflet which offers the chance to win a family meal for four.

At 5pm, Santa Claus will head to the Abbey Green to switch on the lights and bring the Christmas magic to Battle.

The town’s Gala Night will take place on Thursday December 6 (not December 13 as advertised elsewhere) when the shops will stay open until 9pm, with traders offering a hearty, yuletide welcome to all.

There will be entertainment throughout the town and traders will vie to win trophies for the best individual fancy dress, the best decorated shop window and the best dressed business.

A Weald Crafts fair will take place in the Memorial Hall and the Museum of Local History will be open and free for the occasion. There will also be events at St Mary’s Church and the Battle Baptist Church.

The Battle and Langton School choir, the Battle Abbey School Chamber choir, the Hastings Melodians and Lucy Ashton and friends are scheduled to sing on the Abbey Green during the evening from 8pm for some community carols, along with some mulled wine and hot chocolate.

Parking in the Battle Abbey car park will be free for the evening.

For more Christmas shopping, the Mount Street and Market Square car parks will be free on Saturday 8, 15 and 22 December. Events organised by Battle Chamber of Commerce.