News

15 Nov 02

Poole Town Centre Lights Up

Poole Town Centre’s festive season will officially begin with the switching on of Poole’s brand new Christmas Tree lights, sponsored by Mercedes Benz Direct, and the start of late night shopping on 21 November.

Entertaining Christmas shoppers in the run up to the switch on at 6pm will be Chris Manning, from BBC1’s Fame Academy, singing his version of ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, plus pupils from Old Town First School with a variety of Christmas songs. FIRE FM will be providing entertainment with their road show between 4.00pm and 6.00pm in Falkland Square.

The Farmer’s Market will also be in full swing in Town Square (outside Sainsburys) between 4pm – 8pm, offering a selection of English bison, Dorset blueberries, speciality English cheeses, Christmas cakes, puddings, gifts, plus mince pies and hot mulled wine.

Pam Turner, Chairman of Poole Town Centre Marketing and Promotion Working Group, said: "Christmas is the most important time of year for retailers and we are thrilled to continue to build on our festive Christmas display by providing a Christmas Tree in Falkland Square. This will give us a focal point for the festivities and will allow far more families to join in the fun."

Santa’s Little Helper this year will be a pupil from Old Town First School whose design for the hoarding on the base of the Christmas Tree won first prize in a competition run by Poole Town Centre Management. Local artist Nina Camplin has been commissioned to translate five of the winning designs onto the hoardings.

Back by popular demand with information about Christmas treats in Poole is the Town Centre Management’s Christmas Guide, currently available free of charge in Town Centre shops and being distributed to households in the Borough.

Parking arrangements in the Town Centre are better than ever this year with a free Park and Ride every Saturday from Baiter to the Dolphin Shopping Centre operating from 23 November until 11 January. This year also sees the introduction of Creekmoor’s Park & Ride scheme that will run for Christmas and New Year from 7 December to 11 January. There will be free parking in all Town Centre car parks every Thursday from 6pm - 9pm starting 21 November until 19 December, as well as all day Sunday from 17 November to 22 December - a little extra to help with Christmas shopping.

Other Christmas events in Poole:

    5 - 6 December Poole Schools’ Concerts, Lighthouse, call 685222 for details

    7 December 47th Annual Winter Brass Band Contest at Lighthouse

    14 December Christmas Play at Scaplen’s Court , ticket event, call 262600

    14 December Wessex Youth Orchestra and the College Centre for Wessex Young Musicians present a Christmas Celebration, Lighthouse

    15 December Poole Salvation Army & Poole Rotary Club present a Christmas Carolcade, Lighthouse

    18 December Handel’s Messiah, Lighthouse

    20 December Christmas Carols at Scaplen’s Court, call 262600

    20, 22 December Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Ron Goodwin’s Christmas Classics, Lighthouse

Lighthouse, Poole Centre for the Arts Box Office: 01202 685222

Nina Camplin works on community and private murals, commissioned illustrations & sculptures. She also teaches adult art classes, holds workshops and demonstrations. One of her most recent and famous murals, locally, was the image of a ‘dog in the window’ of Gilbert Road in Swanage.

For more information visit www.ninagraphics.co.uk link will open in new window

For more information about Creekmoor’s Park & Ride service, tel: (01202) 262050

Jane Godfrey

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