Christmas Market Set to Bring a Festive Atmosphere to Hailsham

***CHANGES TO EVENT SINCE PUBLICATION***

Due to the high winds predicted, there are a few changes to the Christmas Market event. Please note that the market stalls will now be located in the Civic Community Hall adjacent to Freedom Leisure, from 10am to 4pm, instead of Vicarage Field.

The skate rink will still be positioned in Vicarage Field and Santa & His Sleigh in the High Street outside the Quintins Centre entrance. There will be face painting, games and other children’s activities along with carol singing in the Quintins Shopping Centre from 10am.

Looking for a truly fantastic festive shopping experience? Look no further than the Hailsham Christmas Market which takes place in the town centre this Saturday [5 December] from 10am to 4pm.

The Christmas Market will include around 50 stalls selling Christmas gifts, decorations, cards, cakes, and many other items and there will be a programme of festive entertainment throughout the day for all the family to enjoy, including carol singing from members of Christchurch.

Various festive refreshments will be on sale including mulled wine and roasted chestnuts and the event will also feature a mouth-watering hog roast to tempt visitors.

Organisers Hailsham Town Council and Hailsham Forward are delighted to announce that there will be an open-air skate rink in Vicarage Field, which has been a feature at the Christmas Market in recent years and it is expected that it will be a major attraction for children and families again on the day. The rink will be open from 10am, finishing at 4pm.

If that was not enough, there will also be balloon modelling, face painting and Santa & his Sleigh (provided by Hailsham Rotary Club) will be attending the event to hand out free presents to children, kindly donated by Tesco and Poundland.

There will be additional activities for children aged 2-8 in the Quintins Shopping Centre throughout the day including tinsel pull, pin-the-nose-on-Rudolph and pull-the-feather-out-of-the-turkey.

Christmas music will be playing on a PA system, courtesy of Hailsham Festival FM and Hailsham Parish Church will be hosting their Open Church from 10am to 2pm at which free coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be served.

Councillor Amanda O’ Rawe, Deputy Town Mayor and chairman of the Town Council’s Communities Committee urges people to attend the event. She said: “If you’re looking for special gifts for your loved ones, our Christmas Market has around 50 stalls to browse. From Christmas cards and decorations to fine food, crafts and homeware, we’re here to make sure your shopping is fun and trouble-free.”

“Hailsham is a very special place and Christmas is a very special time. That is probably the main reason why our Christmas Market is increasingly popular and just grows every year.”

“I’d like to thank each and everyone involved in the organisation of the event including town council officers who do so much and special thanks must be extended to Tesco and Poundland, who very kindly donated a large amount of presents for Santa to give out to children this Saturday.”

Councillor Chriss Triandafyllou, vice-chairman of the Communities Committee said: “We’re proud to be hosting a very local market, with the majority of our stallholders being businesses from Hailsham and the surrounding area. Our traders play a large part in the success of the Christmas Market and help to make them so special, with each one carefully selected to give you the best shopping offer possible.”

“I’m confident that people visiting the market stalls will absorb the traditional festive atmosphere and I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and take advantage of what the market and the Hailsham traders have to offer!”

For further information on the Hailsham Christmas event contact Karen Giddings on 01323 841702 or by email: karen.giddings@hailsham-tc.gov.uk.