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The joy of Christmas

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Our guide to the celebrations taking place in the Village area.

The Best Time of the Year is almost here, and plans for Christmas celebrations are well under way across the Village area, starting with the Lights Switch-On in the centre of Alvechurch on Friday November 30 where the Christmas tree has just been installed. Santa will flick the switch at 5.30pm, and there will be carols from Alvechurch Community Choir.

The Lounge will be open for refreshments, and villagers can then make their way to the Baptist Church for the opening of the Christmas Tree Festival with mulled wine and more carols. The Festival runs until December 4, with trees decorated by village groups and organisations (click here for the full timetable of activities).

Alvechurch resident Karen Hillmansen has come up with an idea to involve more people in the celebrations and also evoke memories of the much-loved Alvechurch Alight processions of yesteryear.

She and a group of friends will gather at 121 Birmingham Road at 5pm, and would like to invite any other residents to come along, bring their own electric tealight lanterns and walk down to the village centre – arriving in time to have a drink, listen to the carol singing, watch the switch-on and visit the Festival.

Meanwhile, Alvechurch is also running a best shop window competition, plus a best-dressed house contest – judging for the latter takes place on December 13.

Barnt Green’s big switch-on event takes place on Saturday December 1 from 4pm. There will be music from Cats Chorus Choir, dancing by Star Project, and appearances from the Town Crier, Santa and Mrs Santa. The countdown to the switch-on starts at 5pm, and the winner of the village’s best shop window competition will also be declared.

Lickey’s annual Christmas concert is on Sunday December 2 at Holy Trinity Church at 4pm, with Father Christmas to switch on the tree lights. Blackwell’s tree at The Wheel will be lit on Friday December 7 at 5.45pm, straight after the fair at Blackwell First School. Santa will of course be in attendance at this event, too.

The next festive event in Barnt Green is on Saturday December 8, when St Andrew’s Church hosts a Nativity Scene Festival with a display of nativity scenes from around the world. Pop along between 10am and 4pm.

Then on Saturday December 15, the new development at Cofton Fields gets its own Carol Service, taking place from 4pm in Aero Way Park. On Friday December 21 there will be Community Carols in Cofton Hackett, from 7pm at end of Chestnut Drive (by the Myhill Field).

On the same evening from 7pm, Finstall Village Hall hosts a Community Carols event with choir members from St Bartholomew’s and St Godwald’s – all welcome.

As we get closer to the big day itself, the community festive gathering for the Oakalls and Parklands takes place on Sunday December 23 at 6.30pm on the open grassed area by the noticeboard and Trianon Road. Blackwell Concert Band will accompany the carol singing and Father Christmas will appear at around 7pm.

Finally, if you want to walk off all that Christmas fare, Barnt Green’s annual Wassail Walk is on Thursday December 27 – this will begin around 3pm in Millennium Park and proceed to a local orchard. For full details see https://www.barntgreen.org.uk

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