‘Christmas by the Sea’ has returned for 2017, bringing a series of festive events and creative crafts to Torbay this Yuletide.
Following on from Christmas by the Sea’s inaugural year in 2016, it returns for 2017, expanding it across the whole of Torbay with an even bigger programme of festive events all designed to bring creative and cultural festive cheer to the bay. The event is a Torbay Council project made possible with funding from Arts Council England, Coastal Communities Fund, Torbay Culture Board and Exeter University.
The programme includes lantern and wreath making workshops throughout December, festive performances, a Christmas concert and a wonderful lantern parade for Paignton town centre. The programme is also extending is festive support by donating funds to the wonderful grotto at The Edge in Brixham, 120 participants from Doorsteps Arts will receive lantern making and musical workshops, and 800 school children have received lantern making materials to make lanterns within schools.
This weekend at Torre Abbey’s Festive Family Sunday the programme started with a festive bang! Beautiful lanterns and dozens of wonderful wreaths were created with an incredibly popular, full to capacity, workshop with Torre Abbey’s Head Gardener, using materials from the Abbey’s gardens. Don’t worry if you missed this event, there is a whole series of these workshops continuing over the next few weeks, although booking is definitely recommended!
Next up for the busy programme sees a free festive performance trail on Saturday 2nd December hourly from 10am-1pm around Torquay’s Harbour. Isabella’s Story Bike will guide people on journey around the harbour with delightful songs and stories inspired by Christmas by the Sea with performances from Far Flung Dance Theatre and Torbay Music Hub. Saturday 9th December will see Paignton glowing with hand made lanterns, all are welcome to join. The procession will meet on Victoria Street, starting at 4pm and walking up to Palace Ave Gardens to help build a stunning lantern tree.The programmes finale will be a stunning concert held at the Spanish Barn on Saturd 16th December with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra supported Unidentified Family Orchestra and The Choral Engineers performing Sufjan Stevens Christmas songs as well as an good old fashioned sign along and mulled wine. Tickets are just £5.
For more details of all these events and workshops visit www.christmasbythesea.org.uk
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