Getting ready for Christmas

In the cathedral close the Christmas market chalets have arrived and the ice skating rink is in place. The market and ice rink open on 22 November

Twelfth Night

Tonight is when all Christmas decorations should come down, so it's time to say goodbye to the Cathedral's Christmas tree,

***I am away at the moment so have scheduled this post, thanks for dropping by***

Christmas Market has finished

The Christmas Market is over now, it seemed to be more popular than ever this year.

Brooks Centre

Here's a photo of the Christmas tree at the Brooks Shopping Centre, it has some lovely colours. Here are some of last year's decorations at the shopping centre

Skaters

The ice rink in action this afternoon, pretty quiet which is good as skating with a whole bunch of people is not fun! The Independent newspaper has recently voted Winchester Ice Rink as the 2nd best in Britain!

Christmas Market

Some of the stalls at the Christmas market

Christmas

The Christmas market & ice rink are now open and in full swing. Some photos from there tomorrow.

Christmas Tree

In the High Street the Christmas tree has arrived along with the Christmas lights

Christmas lights

Last week in the High Street the Christmas lights were put up. They are not switched on yet, that comes on Thursday. This year's 'celebrities' are the cast of the Cinderella Christmas pantomime, the University of Winchester Choir, girl group Vanity and the main attraction of the night will be last year’s X-Factor Contestants, The Reason 4.

Chalet

 

In a few weeks time when the Christmas Market opens this chalet will be one of nearly 100 selling any number of things such as Christmas decorations, hats, food, drink, art, gifts, toys. The market is open from 24 November to 21 December

More Ice Rink

Another photo from the Ice Rink, pre-ice by the looks of things. Winchester last year was selling itself as the England's Christmas capital, and with the Christmas market, services and carols at the cathedral, pantomime etc it has a lot going on!

Ice Rink is coming

 

The Ice Rink is now being set up in the Cathedral grounds. It always seems very popular and opens on 24 November until 2 Janaury. I have been before and would like to go again if I could find a quiet session. Tickets cost up to £9.95 for an adult

Christmas is coming!

Yesterday I mentioned Halloween and now I'm already onto Christmas! I noticed that near the Cathedral the chalets have appeared for the Christmas market already. The market doesn't open until 24 November, so we have a while yet, but I guess the chalets have been dropped off early!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone reading this!

Brooks Shopping Centre

Only a few days of Christmas shopping left now. Here are the Christmas decorations from the Brooks shopping centre. A little while ago the centre had to put a sign up saying "We are still open" as a couple of shops had closed, but since Primark has arrived it seems to have more custom.

Morris Dancers

On a Saturday (in particular one just before Christmas) the High Street is full of street entertainers of one sort or another. Here were a group of festively dressed Morris dancers collecting for the Naomi House Hospice. Morris Dancing is a traditional English dance, usually involving choreographed dancing in a group, sometimes with sticks, bells and handkerchiefs.

More Christmas Windows

Another pretty Christmas shop window can be seen at Pure Home in The Square in Winchester.

Christmas Market & Ice Rink

Surprisingly the ice rink and Christmas market weren't totally packed, but I'm sure it will be at the weekend..

Lantern Parade

The Christmas lantern parade through Winchester yesterday from the Great Hall down to the Cathedral to mark the opening of the Ice Rink and Christmas Market. There were some great lanterns that had obviously taken a while to prepare

The calm before the storm

As I mentioned in a previous post Winchester is the Christmas Capital of England! And we are now gearing up for the influx of visitors to the ice rink and Christmas Market. Here it is before the crowds arrive. I don't think the ice is quite frozen yet on the skating rink, I'd love to have a go on it though before the hoards get there!