Community celebrations for festive fayre

School children, community choirs, performers and local solo artists will be leading the festive celebrations in Bury St Edmunds next month.

The Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre takes place from Thursday, November 21, through to Sunday, November 24, with a packed programme of entertainment taking place across two stages.

The fayre opens from noon on November 21 with visitors able to enjoy shopping at more than 300 stalls selling gift ideas, arts and crafts, tasty food and winter warming drinks.

Among the new things happening at this year’s fayre will be a Thursday market running from noon to 6pm on The Buttermarket, featuring local producers, crafts and regular market stalls.

The opening of the fayre will also see students from local schools and West Suffolk College lead a parade from The Apex to Angel Hill.

Over the course of the four days students from St Benedict’s Catholic School, County Upper School, Ickworth Primary School, Westley Middle School and Tollgate Primary School will all take to the Greene King stage to perform.

The Greene King stage will also feature the The Honington Military Wives, The West Stow Drummers, the Children’s Theatre Company, the School of Rock and The St Cecilia Chorale while the Haart Community Stage will see Stagecoach, Barrow Friendly Folk, solo artists including West Suffolk College’s Brooke Telling.

Churches Together and the Salvation Army Band will bring the fayre to a close on the Sunday on the Greene King stage.

Knit and Natter meanwhile have been busy preparing for a special advent calendar – children will look in the windows of shops to find the nativity characters following clues to a nativity scene in the 24th window.

For more on what’s on when visit www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk

John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “The Christmas Fayre is very much part of the community and it is great to see so many schools and groups involved in making this a fantastic family event for all our communities across West Suffolk to come to and enjoy. The fayre also attracts lots of visitors from outside of West Suffolk which brings economic benefits to the town and to West Suffolk as a whole, not just during the four days of the fayre but during the rest of the year when many people return to experience the wonderful history, heritage and charm that West Suffolk has to offer.”

A Park and Ride service will be in operation from 11am on the Thursday through to the Sunday evening.

Park and Walk from the council’s car park in Olding Road is only 15 minutes from the fayre and will be available on the Saturday and Sunday. Greene King and West Suffolk College’s car parks will also be available during the weekend of the fayre.

Family saver tickets are available for those coming by train. Bus services will also be in operation throughout the fayre. For more visit https://www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk/

Visitors may notice a range of physical security measures including barrier systems and bollards, similar to those at last year’s fayre. Police, including armed police, will once again be providing a vigilant eye over the fayre.

Road closures

Tuesday, November 19

from 6pm car parking is suspended on Angel Hill until 11pm Sunday, November 24;

from 6pm car parking is suspended in parking bays in Hatter Street until 10pm, Sunday, November 24.

Wednesday, November 20

Angel Hill, from 9.30am road will be closed until 11pm, Sunday, November 24;

Cornhill and Buttermarket, from 6pm, after the market, road closed and parking suspended until 6pm, Sunday, November 24;

Chequer Square, from 6pm parking suspended until 10pm, Sunday, November 24;

Hatter Street, from 10am road closed until 10pm, Sunday, November 24;

High Baxter Street, no through traffic to Hatter Street, access only from 10am until 10pm, Sunday, November 24;

Crown Street and Honey Hill, from 6pm, no residents parking, limited parking, parking suspended until Sunday, November 24.

Thursday, November21

Angel Lane, road closed from 11am until 10pm, Sunday, November 24;

Lower Baxter Street, no through traffic to Angel Lane, access only from 11am until 10pm, Sunday, November 24.

Friday, November 22

St Johns Street/Brentgovel Street, road closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 6pm, Sunday, November 24;

Great Churchyard – road closed to all vehicles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3pm until 5.30pm.

Pictured above is The Honington Military Wives who will be performing at The Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre.