Westbourne’s Victorian Christmas program is set to transform the area into a festively Dickensian town between 1st and 24th December
Westbourne is welcoming in the festive season by magically transforming into a Victorian Christmas wonderland from the 1st December right up until Christmas Eve. Beginning this Friday (1st December), Westbourne’s shops and traders are promising a white Christmas with real snow from 3pm. This will be followed by a sensational candlelit carol service between 5.30 and 7.00 pm plus the switching on of the twinkling Christmas lights in Westbourne’s historic arcade.
Throughout the month, spectacular Victorian Christmas entertainment will be supplied by a range of quirky Victorian characters strolling around Westbourne. Visitors to the town are encouraged to look out for a match seller, a bicycle rider, a policeman and a juggler who will be animating the area and teaching the public about Victorian practices.
Roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, and mince pies will also be available on Westbourne high street throughout December to treat shoppers and get their appetites in tune with the season. During Small Business Saturday, on 2nd December, the Westbourne Artisan Farmers Market will also be relaunched offering a wider variety of delicious locally produced goods.
For those struggling to find time for Christmas shopping, many of Westbourne’s stores will be open until 7pm. To save shoppers valuable time, lots of the shops are offering a free Christmas Gift wrapping service too.
The public can also enjoy a series of Christmas themed walks and bus talks for some festive learning this season. Visitors are invited to discover more about the Victorian era and the origins of Christmas in England.
Stefan Krause, Manager of Bournemouth Coastal BID which has helped fund Westbourne’s Victorian Christmas, said:
“Westbourne is a fantastic area, it hosts a spectacular array of local producers, high-quality restaurants and great shopping opportunities. The Victorian Christmas will be a one-of-a-kind celebration and a great opportunity for families and friends to share in the joy of the season together. Make sure to visit Westbourne as it’s transformed into something from Dicken’s ‘A Christmas Carol’!”
Visitors to Westbourne’s Victorian Christmas will also have the opportunity to unlock the ‘Westbourne Elf’ through Bournemouth Coastal BID’s new state of the art ‘Go Bournemouth Coast’ augmented reality app. Described as an ‘interactive’ treasure hunt, participants will need to find the 12 elves of Christmas and take selfies with them to be in with a chance of winning an array of amazing prizes. Clues about the elves locations will be posted on the Coastal BID and Bournemouth Seasons social media pages as well as the Go Bournemouth Coast App. For more information about the #TakeAnElfie competition and to download the app visit www.gobournemouthcoast.co.uk.
For additional information about Coastal Business Improvement District (BID) please visit https://coastalbid.co.uk/
