Dorchester's Christmas Cracker night will be better than ever (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester's Christmas Cracker night will be better than ever

5:00pm Friday 14th October 2011 in News By Harry Hogger

ORGANISERS of this December’s Christmas Cracker night in Dorchester are hoping to ‘kick-start’ the festive season with an evening of traditional entertainment.

The event to mark the start of late night shopping in the county town will take place on Thursday, Decem-ber 1 and the committee is busy preparing for the big night.

The 2011 Cracker will see the lantern parade of previous years replaced by Santa Claus heading up South Street to his grotto in St Peter’s Church, escorted by elves and reindeer as well as dancers.

In keeping with previous years stores will also be trying to outdo each other with their window displays in the competition for best dressed shop front.

There will also be a wide variety of stalls throughout the town centre and shops opening their doors late for a chance to do some Christmas shopping, a tradition which will be kept up for the next three Thursdays before Christmas.

This year’s festivities will also include a town crier competition, led by Dorchester’s very own award winning crier Alistair Chisholm.

Committee member John Fiori, who runs the Horse with the Red Umbrella cafe in High West Street, said organisers were hoping for a very traditional feel for the 2011 Cracker.

He said it was also hoped that former Steps start Lee Latchford Evans, who is performing in the Snow White pantomime at the Weymouth Pavilion, will be on hand to switch on the town’s Christmas lights.

Mr Fiori urged businesses in the town to join in the fun by opening late on the night and said people coming along would be in for a festive treat.

He said: “It’s going to be well worth opening, it’s a great atmosphere as we all dress up and it makes for a great occasion.

“There’s a lovely feel to the town and last year everyone said it was one of the best ever.

“It’s really to kick start Christmas in Dorchester and it gives you that little buzz.”

The entertainment will start at around 5.30pm, with town centre road closures coming into effect from 5pm.

Anyone interested in having a stall, which are allocated on a first come first serve basis, can find out more at www.dorchesterchamber.co.uk.

People interested in making donations for the event, helping with the road closures or anyone who would like their children to participate in the parade are asked to contact Mr Fiori on 01305 262019.