Old Town to host Swindon’s biggest Christmas event this year

A fun fair on Wood Street, the pedestrianisation of Victoria Hill and a huge headline act are set to make the first Christmas Festival in Old town since 2019, the biggest and best in its history.

The Old Town Business Association, branded publicly as Friends of Old Town, are back with a bang in 2022 after 2 years of restrictions due to Covid. The group have already had a busy year organising two huge events on Wood Street over the summer; a Queen’s Jubilee event and the 8th Sausage & Ale Trail.

The Christmas Festival, which will include the formal switch on of the Christmas Lights, is now a larger event running from 12pm-6pm. Visitors can expect a huge lineup of live music, and Wood Street, the area which usually hosts this event, will become a large fun fair full of family-friendly rides and stalls.

This years headliner, which is set to be announced on Friday 28th October, is rumoured to be a well-known popstar and actor who was born in Wiltshire. The currently unnamed headliner will be performing three famous tracks as well as joining Santa in switching on the lights.

Other entertainment on the day includes Swindon favourite Phoebe Maddison who got to the battle rounds of The Voice Kids, young acts like the Lawn Manor School of Dance and a Robbie Williams tribute act Marc Hopkins.

After a successful road closure application, the main stage and food and drink zone will be taking place on Victoria Hill this year, whilst Wood Street will be the home of the giant fun fair provided by Steven Hill.

"Over 50 years ago Wood Street was used as a street fair for these type of events, “said events manager Tasha Millican-Lee, “so we felt it right with the increased area, to give attendees a very special and unique fun fair experience as part of our new look Christmas Festival”.

The Christmas Festival is the first of a three-year upgrade plan for Old Town’s most popular event. It is a result of the Old Town Business Association building a strong partnership with South Swindon Parish Council, who have kindly taken on the job of repairing and managing the lights themselves.

"In this first year they have been repaired and replaced after a lot of damage in storage,” said Neil Hopkins local Parish Councillor, "Next year we are looking at the possibility of securing new lights to cover Victoria Hill in a carpet of LED’s, if this new format is proven a success."

This years event is also possible thanks to the successful launch of the Friends of Old Town Card in January.

The Friends of Old Town card scheme is designed to give Old Town users discounts at over 80 Old Town businesses. The card scheme has raised over £10,000 through £10 donations from the public as they sign up to get a card.

“This investment in the card scheme has enabled us to expand our event onto Victoria Hill and invest in its future with a regular source of income from the card scheme” said Kris Talikowski, Vice-Chair of the Business Association. “As the card scheme continues to grow, we can continue to invest in marketing Old Town to ensure it’s long term success as a business district and support businesses with greater footfall and promotion”.

The event will be a public event but visitors are being asked for a £1 donation per person to help with the increased costs this year and to allow investment into new lights next year. Even with the increase in energy costs, the power for the lights is kindly beng provided by Charles Harding Estate Agents.

The peak event attendance is capped at 5000, and visitors are recommended to book a e-ticket via a donation on eventbrite to ensure entry.

The road closure will be in place from 6am on Sunday 27th November until 9pm and will be effective from outside The Victoria pub up to the mini roundabout where Bath Road becomes Joiner Lane. Diversions will be in place for that day and the public are encouraged to walk to the Christmas Festival if possible.

Entry points into the event include the old Museum and Art Gallery (Apsley House) on Bath Road, St Michaels Way, the pedestrian walkway from the Britannia Place car park to Wood Street, next to McColls on Victoria Hill, and also where High Street turns into the entrance to Wood Street.

The association has turned to some key sponsors to help with the costs and TalkTalk, Deacons Jewellers, Future Planning (a financial planner on Devizes Road), Los Gatos tapas bar and Dominos Pizza have all ensured the event can run in this larger, and more exciting format.

You can get your e-tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-town-christmas-festival-2022-tickets-445086825677