On Friday 22 November we'll be celebrating the start of the festive season with a Christmas Launch Party event in Horsham Town Centre.
From 4-9pm there will be live music, street performers, late night shopping until 8pm and food and drink stalls to enjoy.
Horsham District Council are running this jointly with Your Horsham (Horsham BID Ltd).
Christmas shopping prize draw
Spend £50 or more between 4pm and 8pm to be entered into our prize draw to win some incredible prizes!
Just come and see our Town Ambassadors in Swan Walk to get your receipts checked and stamped to be in for the chance to win.
Launch party line-up:
4-5pm: Paul Stanworth in The Bishopbric
Local singer and guitarist Paul will be performing a mix of festive and popular music across West Street and The Bishopric area.
5-5.45pm: St Mary's Choir and lantern parade
The St Mary's Church Choir and St Mary’s Primary school will lead a parade through the town centre, stopping at key locations to sing Christmas carols. Join the walk with your own homemade lantern or watch the choir as they perform.
Lantern kits are on sale from Whirligig toy shop – hurry, stocks are limited.
The route will start from St Mary's leading onto The Forum, through to West street and into the Bishopbric area before heading to the Carfax and ending in Market Square.
5.45-6pm: Market Square Christmas tree switch on
Join star of this year's pantomime, John Partridge, who will lead the Christmas lights switch on at Market Square with you, outside Bill's restaurant.
6.30-7.15pm: Pantomime singalong at the Carfax bandstand
The cast of The Capitol's pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, will be putting on a brilliant show at the Carfax bandstand to get everyone in the party spirit.
7.30-8: Trinity Church Players Choir at Piries Place
Enjoy carols and classic hymns from this Horsham church choir at Piries Place.
8-9pm: Almost Elvis at Market Square
Almost Elvis will be rocking and rolling over at the Market Square stage outside Bill's.
This stage will stay up for the next six weeks for community performances in the run-up to Christmas. If you would like to book a slot on the stage on the run up to Christmas please contact Rachel at rachel@yourhorsham.com.
Star Bear and Stilt walkers
Look out for our entertainers as you walk across the town. Meet Star Bear, a beautiful lantern puppet polar bear, and enjoy Twisted Bliss stilt walkers
4.30-5.15 : Star Bear at John Lewis
6-6.40 : Star Bear at Swan Walk shopping centre
7-7.30 : Stilt walkers at West Street
7-7.40 : Star Bear at Piries Place
7.30-8 : Stilt walkers at The Forum
