Littlehampton is preparing for Christmas with markets, carols and a polar bear hunt

We have lots going on in the town in the run up to the big day including the weekly festive artisan markets every Saturday during December, which give opportunities to buy something a little different for gifts, numerous carol concerts, Wickmas on December 8, Christmas lunches and not forgetting of course the Christmas light switch-on in the town centre on Friday from 5pm to 8pm.

Last year the town council had great feedback on this event and our events team has once more been working as hard as Santa helpers to make sure the evening is a success.

There will be two new elves added to the Christmas lights theme and there is even a bear hunt themed to the twelve days of Christmas.

Twelve polar bears will be hiding themselves ‘in-bear-tween’ the shops in the town centre from Friday and a reward is on offer to brave explorers who find all the bears and correctly complete an entry form which is printed as part of the Christmas What’s On Guide available from selected outlets in the town.

Forms can then be returned to Bah-Humbug Sweets in Anchor Springs and all entries will receive a small sweet treat. A draw will be made on Friday, December 21, and one lucky winner will win a family ticket for four people to see the The Littlehampton Musical Comedy Society’s production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears at The Windmill in January, as well as 1.5kg of confectionery donated by Bah-Humbug Sweets.

|Also in the news - Arun District Council has admitted there are lessons to learn after it received three complaints into a vote on the Look & Sea Centre’s future which was described as a ‘shambles’; unicorns took over a Littlehampton pub for a fundraising event in support of a cancer fighter who inspires others with her Positives Vibes blog; and a man who fell from a multi-storey car park in Worthing is in a critical condition|

I myself have in the past week been busily decorating my home ready for Christmas. I know many will think this is too early, however with the many engagements I am looking forward to in the coming weeks I really did have to.

To get me in the mood for this, early in the week I attended the Wick Flower Shop’s winter workshop at Wick Hall to make a festive arrangement.

Never having done this before I was looking forward to learning new skills and having a bit of fun.

The evening provided all 60 people in attendance with step-by-step instructions, all the materials to make the seasonal arrangement, refreshments and a full demonstration by shop owner and head florist Michelle Bly, and throughout the evening all the florists from the shop were there to give help and advice.

This was a great fun evening and it was great to see how everyone’s displays were all a little different, with people giving their own personal tweaks to the design.

Well done to Michelle and the team for a wonderful fun, well organised evening, I look forward to the next one.

The true meaning of Christmas is one that can too easily be forgotten with all the lights, glitter and food, and while I look forward to reporting back to you on all the things I’ve attended, and hope to see many of you there, please take a little time to think of others around you.

The Littlehampton Food Bank I am sure would be grateful for anything you can spare to help those who are struggling, there are many homeless and a donation to a charity can make a big difference, even taking the time to visit someone you know might be by themselves to have a natter over a cup of tea can be more precious than any present you could think of.

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