Warming Up for Christmas 2024

The new components of this year’s event were a closing of Thatcham High Street as well as Thatcham Broadway which allowed a record number of traders and local community and charity stalls to take part and there was also a new position for the main stage and a new festive lighting scheme in the Town Centre.

The changes met with much approval with audiences taking to social media to applaud the changes; “Loved Kennet Radio festive roadshow and the stalls down the other end of town, you really did pull this year out the bag!! Bravo and congratulations’’ and “Thank you for another thoroughly enjoyable Christmas Lights event. It was lovely and we really appreciate the community events you organise and support. Keep up the good work.’’

The stage highlights featured an exciting medley of dance numbers from ‘Dance with Sonia Brown’ and ‘Thatcham All Stars Theatre Company’ whilst Spurcroft Primary School Choir, St Mary’s Church Choir and Kennet School Choir sang traditional carols.

The traditional lights were switched on by Thatcham’s Mayor Cllr Suzanne Adamantos whose welcome message was sung to the audience to much applause, before the countdown and the switching on of the lights coincided with stage  pyrotechnics and bursts of snow over the forty-foot Christmas tree on the Broadway Green. The Mayor stated “What an amazing evening, with a good turnout despite the weather forecast. Everyone enjoyed the brilliant entertainment.’’

Many of the town’s businesses joined in the festive celebrations by staying open late, Kitchen Design created a ‘design a Santa Clause face with cookies’  with over 100 children taking part.  Many also dressed their windows for this year’s Victorian theme with Picture it Framed won first prize in the Mayor’s Window Dressing Competition.

The Victorian theme was echoed by stilt walkers and a fairy queen bubble maker who all looked superb in Victorian attire. The stalls included Newbury Lions who persuaded  Santa and his sleigh to visit Thatcham.