One of biggest events on the Stowmarket calendar kicked off at the weekend as the town’s spectacular Christmas tree festival got underway.
The popular festival is expected to attract up to 30,000 visitors with hundreds of trees located across several town centre venues.
A bumper turnout saw the festival launched at the town’s Christmas light switch-on event on Saturday, with Stowmarket’s very own Matt Edwards – star of Britain’s Got Talent – pushing the button.
The town’s 13th annual Christmas tree festival will see more than 350 trees in St Peter and St Mary’s Church as well as in Abbots Hall in the Museum of East Anglian Life, the town’s library and in the town centre.
Decorators from schools, groups, charities and organisations in the town get well and truly into the Christmas spirit with exciting and original designs.
More than 1,000 people viewed the array of creatively decorated trees in the town’s parish church on the opening night with plenty more expected.
Reverend Michael Eden said: “One of the aims is to work in partnership with other groups in the town. It’s great to have that level of involvement from the whole town.
“It is always good to see people coming into the church and the town. People are so creative and talented in the way the trees are decorated.”
The festival is expected to attract hundreds of visitors from local schools, clubs and organisations – as well as many from further afield.
The event has previously pulled in some international visitors, with more expected to descend on the town this year.
David Blackburn, town clerk for Stowmarket Town Council, said the launch event and light switch-on was a “tremendous” evening.
He said: “The Christmas light switch-on was highly successful with a bumper turnout. It was a tremendous evening.
“The Christmas tree festival is one of the biggest in the country and along with the Christmas market on Saturday, December 9, we hope the events bring people to town.”
There is also a chance for creative writers to get involved and write a poem or short story inspired by the festival.
The best offerings will feature in a special book ahead of next year’s festival.
Entries can be handed in at the library, Stowmarket Parish Church or the Museum of East Anglian Life by February 1, 2018.
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