THE FESTIVE season gets under way in Redruth on December 1 with the official opening of the town's Christmas events.
At 12.30pm, the mayor of Redruth, Councillor Judy Davidson MBE will open the doors to the free Christmas grotto, in the former Boots store in Fore Street.
The shop has been transformed into magical wonderland of gifts and toys.
The grotto includes professional actors playing the parts of Father Christmas and his elf, and there are displays of Meccano trains and model toys, courtesy of Moseley Toy Museum and the Cornwall Branch of the Hornby Railway Collectors Association.
It will be open on all the Saturdays in the run up to Christmas from 10am – 4.30pm.
At 5pm on December 1, Pirate FM will broadcast a countdown to announce the start of the children's Christmas procession through the main street, which has been decorated with Christmas trees and festive lights.
Local artists Bec Applebee and Kate Beesley have been working with about 200 school children and young members of the community who will walk up through the town from the bottom of Fore Street to the very top and back down again with their festive artwork lighting up the night sky.
Once the procession has returned to St Rumon's Gardens, the Ingleheart Singers will perform while everyone is invited to meet Father Christmas who will be ready and waiting underneath the statue of a miner with a sack full of free special Christmas gifts.
For one night only, the majority of shops in the town will be staying open until 7.30pm providing the perfect opportunity for a spot of Christmas shopping.
Elisa McLeod, from the Christmas events committee, said: "Once the celebrations are under way there will be a wealth of free entertainment to enjoy throughout the Christmas period, including children's rides, festive shop window displays, choir concerts, children's workshops, coffee mornings, carol singing and Krowji Christmas Open Studios.
"For details on all these events simply pick up a free events diary from any shop in Redruth or visit www.visitredruth.co.uk
"With special thanks to Redruth Town Council for their continuing commitment to fund these events, and also to a long list of volunteers and sponsors."
At 12.30pm, the mayor of Redruth, Councillor Judy Davidson MBE will open the doors to the free Christmas grotto, in the former Boots store in Fore Street.
The shop has been transformed into magical wonderland of gifts and toys.
The grotto includes professional actors playing the parts of Father Christmas and his elf, and there are displays of Meccano trains and model toys, courtesy of Moseley Toy Museum and the Cornwall Branch of the Hornby Railway Collectors Association.
It will be open on all the Saturdays in the run up to Christmas from 10am – 4.30pm.
At 5pm on December 1, Pirate FM will broadcast a countdown to announce the start of the children's Christmas procession through the main street, which has been decorated with Christmas trees and festive lights.
Local artists Bec Applebee and Kate Beesley have been working with about 200 school children and young members of the community who will walk up through the town from the bottom of Fore Street to the very top and back down again with their festive artwork lighting up the night sky.
Once the procession has returned to St Rumon's Gardens, the Ingleheart Singers will perform while everyone is invited to meet Father Christmas who will be ready and waiting underneath the statue of a miner with a sack full of free special Christmas gifts.
For one night only, the majority of shops in the town will be staying open until 7.30pm providing the perfect opportunity for a spot of Christmas shopping.
Elisa McLeod, from the Christmas events committee, said: "Once the celebrations are under way there will be a wealth of free entertainment to enjoy throughout the Christmas period, including children's rides, festive shop window displays, choir concerts, children's workshops, coffee mornings, carol singing and Krowji Christmas Open Studios.
"For details on all these events simply pick up a free events diary from any shop in Redruth or visit www.visitredruth.co.uk
"With special thanks to Redruth Town Council for their continuing commitment to fund these events, and also to a long list of volunteers and sponsors."