Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival

Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival is a local event occurring in churches of the Brighstone parish on the Isle of Wight in England for the winter tourist season.[1] This charitable event is used to raise money for the maintenance of churches in the parish.[2] [3]

History

The Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival began in 1996 and has since been able to raise about £60,000 for Island and national charities. The festivities traditionally start on a Wednesday with a tree lighting ceremony at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. This event has attracted about 6,500 tourists.[4]

In 2009, Sally Taylor MBE, anchor of BBC South Today, led the lighting of the “Tree of Joy” at the Brighstone Methodist Church.

Locations

The annual festival is held at St. Mary’s Church, the Methodist Church, and the Wilberforce Hall in Brighstone, and the St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church in nearby Mottistone. Visitors may opt to travel to Mottistone by horse-drawn carriage.[5]

Brighstone also has numerous attractions for visitors, including a church dating back to 1190 and a museum with a Victorian design.[6]

Festivities

The highlight of the celebration is the showcasing of 120 decorated Christmas trees exhibited by charities, associations, families, and individuals.[7] The festivities include carol services, military band concerts, choir singing, and the lighting of the hospice tree, which marks the beginning of the four-day event. There is also a Christmas gift and craft fair.[8] Organizers seldom charge an entry fee for the events, but rely on donations.[9]

Entries

Entries are created and displayed by individuals, groups, and businesses, making this one of the biggest Christmas festivals in England.[10] In the west of the island, this is a major event and many locals contribute. The churches are decorated, and banners put up across the Back of the Wight.

Many organizations, such as the National Health Service, RSPCA, and local charities, use their trees to give information, appeal for money, or raise awareness.

References

  1. ↑ Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival 2009 Retrieved 15 July 2011
  2. ↑ "Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival." On the Wight. Retrieved 15 July 2011
  3. ↑ "Brighstone Christmas Tree Festiva."On the Wight. Retrieved 15 July 2011
  4. ↑ "Brighstone lit up for tree festival." Isle of Wight County Press Online. Retrieved 22 July 2013
  5. ↑ "Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival. " Island: Pulse: Isle of Wight News. Retrieved 22 July 2013
  6. ↑ "Isle of Wight Zoo to enter Christmas tree festival." aferry. Retrieved 22 July 2013
  7. ↑ "Bright lights of Brighstone Christmas Festival". Retrieved 22 July 2013
  8. ↑ "Brighstone lit up for tree festival." Isle of Wight County Press Online. Retrieved 22 July 2013
  9. ↑ "Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival. " Island: Pulse: Isle of Wight News. Retrieved 22 July 2013
  10. ↑ "Christmas Tree Festival set to bring in visitors." Isle of Wight Radio News. Retrieved 22 July 2013

External links


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