This event has already taken place!
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
Also happening around town from these Visit Horsham members:
Whirligig Toys – Carfax: Free stocking filler when buy in store on the night
Sienna Rocks – Swan Walk: FREE angel when you spend £50.00 or more on the night
Crates Local: Carfax– Gin tasting and 10% off every full bottle of gin purchased that evening
Cuckoo – Carfax: Free Gift with every purchase over £20.00
D’Arcy’s – Piries Place: Upgrade of a medium glass to a large glass of wine or 2 for 1 cocktails between 4pm & 8pm in the wine bar
Carmela Deli – Carfax: 10% off Panettoni and Chocolate
Beauty Secrets – East Street: FREE skin analysis between 4pm & 8pm. Shoppers can pop in and have a complimentary assessment of their skin and recommendations given. Our relax area will be set up as a snug so that any clients with bookings can take advantage of a cosy area to sit after treatment and chill out with a hot chocolate and mince pie and we will be offering a complimentary upgrade to hot stone/lava shell massage to those who a massage treatment with us.
Green People: Carfax - Complimentary Goodie Bag worth over £55.00 with a spend of £50.00. Three for two and buy one get one half price on Gift Boxes.
