Time to sparkle in Weymouth

The Weymouth Christmas Sparkle, the late-night shopping and entertainment extravaganza, is back for a second year and will be held on Thursday, December 8.

The charity-supporting Sparkle replaces Victorian Shownight which used to be held in the town and last year’s inaugural event was a success with crowds enjoying the festivities and tills ringing like sleigh bells.

It’s set to be bigger this year with continuous entertainment and 60 stalls lining the streets – the most there has been at either Sparkle or Shownight for several years.

All the usual Christmassy fun is promised with stalls, festive food and drink including hog roast and mulled wine, school choirs, music and dancing, street entertainers and a lantern parade.

It is centred around the main shopping streets and runs from 3pm-9pm.

Organising duties are in the capable hands of the Rotary Club of Weymouth Harbourside and young member Ryan Hope has been nominated to co-ordinate the event as chairman of Weymouth Christmas Sparkle.

He said: “Preparations are going well and I predict Sparkle will be bigger than last year.

“There will be around 60 stalls lining the streets which is a huge amount.

“We’ve got loads more for the family too and we’re also organising a children’s lantern parade through the town centre once again.

“We’re encouraging people, especially the children, to come in Christmas-themed fancy dress and we’re organising a reindeer hunt and there will be prizes for the winners.”

Ryan said with sponsorship coming from Synergy Housing there will be more to give away to god causes afterwards.

He encouraged people to enter the grand draw which has a main prize of £500 cash.

Ryan, 20, who has just finished an engineering apprenticeship, has also been involved with Westham Community Group and Weymouth Carnival.

He said: “I’m really keen to support local events like this and I hope we will get lots of support.”

Local entertainer Ray Banham, also a borough councillor, is organising the entertainment and says it will be a ‘fantastic’ evening.

He said: “There will be continuous musical entertainment on the main stage in New Bond Street from mid-afternoon right through until nine o’clock in the evening. There’ll be school and church choirs, dancers, and stars of the Weymouth Panto-mime who will be doing a 10-minute scene.

“A procession to St Mary’s Church will leave from the stage but entertainment will continue on the stage with acts including Ed Hintze and a 70-strong choir, belly dancers and a brilliant Lady Gaga tribute act.

“Elsewhere in the town there will be bands, buskers and choirs, Darth Vader from Star Wars, Captain Stupid and lots more including of course Father Christmas in his grotto.

“We have a great line-up this year and it’s all free. People should not miss it.”

For more details see the website: weymouthchrist massparkle.co.uk