The spirit of Christmas
Festive magic fills the streets as thousands flock to the ‘Christmas Kick Off’ in Royal Tunbridge Wells
The Royal Tunbridge Wells Christmas Kick Off took place all day on Saturday 15 November and was the biggest Christmas event the town has seen. Footfall data from the day showed over 60,000 people in the town centre enjoying the Christmas vibe.
The Festive Fair, which saw Mount Pleasant and Civic Way pedestrianised to make room for a community performance stage, market stalls and fairground attractions, launched the day perfectly. Performances from Cascade Dance, Local & Live, Trinity Youth Theatre, Rock Choir, Talentz and The Mead School kept visitors entertained throughout the day. Visitors also enjoyed stalls selling Christmas treats, games and activities from local charities and a great selection of food and beverages.
Christmas was officially launched with thousands joining the free Singalong Santa Parade with snow machines galore, which started in Civic Way and took in the Christmas lights and decorations on Monson Road, Calverley Precinct, Grosvenor Road, Victoria Road and ended in Camden Road.
Thanks to the incredible team at TW Round Table, Santa, along with some of the cast from Nativity the Musical at Trinity Theatre, and Sleeping Beauty at the Assembly Hall Theatre, travelled in his grand sleigh.
The parade this year was also the launch platform to introduce the new star in town, ‘Rudolph’s Runner’, a land train that will spend Christmas here in Tunbridge Wells. At the end of the parade, hundreds enjoyed a firework celebration on Camden Road, which was closed off in preparation for the After Party.
Cafes, bars and restaurants on Camden Road threw open their doors offering drinks, hot and cold food and a warm welcome, and people celebrated with many of our ‘independents’ in the town centre. West Kent Radio and Alex Beharrell delivered the music, local comedian Aimee Cooper’s glamorous alter ego, Kitty Cassis gave away amazing prizes in the free Christmas Prize Draw.
To book Rudolph’s Runner, a 50-minute adventure experience taking in some special parts of the town and parks, visit www.joytothewells.co.uk
