PORTLAND gets in the festive spirit tonight with the annual Christmas event known as Easton Promise.

This year the Portland Community Partnership has been working with local groups including Community 2000 to organise activities around Easton Square and nearby venues including musical performances.

There will also be stalls offering crafts and festive food and a number of shops will be extending their opening hours until 8pm.

This includes Island Gallery which will feature chilled jazz from Arran and trumpet player Nigel.

Shoppers can also visit Community 2000 and the Methodist Church hall where there will be craft stalls and other activities and both the Methodist Church and All Saints Church are open and offer a welcoming.

Community 2000 will also be hosting the popular donkeys and the Rotary sleigh – and Santa Claus will be dropping in.

There will be children’s rides in the park and throughout the evening there will be various musical performances at venues around Easton Square.

The event runs from 5pm-8pm.

Programme of Events

5pm Opening of Event – A Cry by Stuart Cave (Easton Gardens); 5.10 pm Carols round the Christmas Tree led by Julia’s House (Easton Gardens); 5.20pm Top Spin Circus (Easton Gardens); 5.45pm Dance Force (Easton Centre); 6pm Quangle Wangle Choir (Easton Centre); 6.30pm IPACA Choir (Easton Centre); 6.30pm 2nd Edition Majorettes (Easton Gardens); 7pm Top Spin Circus (Co-op area); 7pm Ben Brings the Power of Christmas (Wool Shop); 7.30pm Top Spin Circus (Wool Shop); 7.30pm Ben Brings the Power of Circus (Co-op area); =from 5.30pm Salvation Army Band (various locations)

Throughout the evening: 5pm – 8pm All Saints Church – Open for quiet reflection; Methodist Church – Open for quiet reflection; Methodist Hall – Hot drinks, charity stalls, information; Community 2000 – Rotary’s Santa’s Sleigh plus Weymouth Beach Donkeys outside; Community 2000 – Christmas craft stalls, raffles, tombola, hot drinks and snacks; Easton Gardens – children’s merry-go-round, candy floss, Test Your Strength game; Easton Shopping Centre – Santa’s Grotto The Green Shop – Take a look in!; Around and about – informal music