Yahoo News Surrey town Christmas spectacular hoping for 10,000 visitors to end months of disruption
This Christmas will be a fairytale for one Surrey town. Dorking is hosting a festive spectacular, which will mark the end of months of disruption and bring some yuletide joy to shoppers.
Families, friends, residents and visitors are invited to the heart of Dorking’s high street to enjoy a full day of festive fun. The event will feature a vibrant artisan market curated by Surrey Hills Enterprises, spanning both High Street and South Street, where people can shop for unique gifts and local treats.
Jo McGowan, BID Manager, told SurreyLive: “ Obviously we're really excited. We're almost two and a half weeks away from the actual event. Lots of our preparations are ramping up now and lots of stuff is coming together.
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“What we're hoping is that local residents of Dorking but also from the surrounding villages and other towns will come and visit us on the day and experience lots of the things that we've got going on.”
A number of activities will be on throughout the day. Jo explained “ We've got a free Santa's Grotto. We've got free face painters. We've also got a free snow globe that you can get in and have your photo taken with. There is also a fun fair. Then we've got Artisan Market stores at the High Street and in South Street, which are being organised by Surrey Hills Enterprises.
“We've also got lots of live performances happening in the High Street and other points in the town. So lots of local artists, local bands, local schools, local choirs are coming and performing for us on the day as well. So there will be lots going on for all the families. So, young and old will enjoy the day.”
A sinkhole has recently made travelling around Dorking more difficult, but this has now been cleared up, just in time for the festive period. Jo told SurreyLive: “ I never thought we'd be so happy to see cars again. We're really pleased to see that West Street is open. People are coming through the town, the town is busier, You can get in very easily and we're looking forward to seeing lots of people over the Christmas period.”
“All the car Parks will be open, and they're free on a Sunday as well. They will be busy on the day but they are all open. We are blessed with three stations in Dorking as well, so if you can get the train in, it's a short walk into town from there. Hopefully we'll have a nice day and you can walk in as well. That's a great way to get into Dorking and you can experience the atmosphere.”
The event has been going on for some time now, and an estimated 10, 000 came to enjoy the activities last year. As well as the official activities lots of the businesses, shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes welcome visitors with good cheer.
Jo said: We're also going to be running a Christmas Trail, starting on December 13. So we will be promoting that to encourage people to come back. On a day like the festival, you might not see everything that you want to. There's a reason to come back with the trail and you can explore some more shops and businesses that are open.
Highlights of the day include an opportunity to meet the stars of this year’s Dorking Halls pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, and younger guests can look forward to visiting Santa’s Grotto, face painting, glitter tattoos, and the creations of Miss Ballooniverse.
The family funfair set in St Martin’s Walk carpark promises plenty of thrills, while Christmas themed competitions will engage schools, shops, and the local community.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, December 1st, 2023
Time: 11 AM to 5 PM
Location: Central Dorking, Surrey
Admission: Free, with activities for all ages
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