Spalding traders hope Christmas Celebration event on Friday November 29 can begin a bumper festive period

Traders are hoping that a town centre Christmas event will boost footfall and bring a much-needed festive boost.

Spalding town centre is set to be dusted with festive magic tonight (Friday, November 29) — with a range of activities between 5pm and 9pm to get people into the Christmas spirit.

Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of late night shopping - along with admiring the town’s new festive lights, which will be switched on tonight having been made bigger and better with a £70,000 donation from Spalding Town Board.

Penningtons Coffee Shop on Red Lion Street, will be open until 9pm to offer hot drinks and cakes to visitors.

Shop owner Chris Wheeler hopes to see more events like this in the future and said: “As a small business we are keen to support anything which will bring visitors into the town.

“The more activities we put on in the town centre to make it more appealing for people to travel to would be great.

“We are pleased to support the event and hope to see a lot of people supporting us.”

Another store which will be supporting the event in The Shoppe In Market Place.

Manager Chiara Lyon said: “I think it's a good thing they are looking to do more events to improve the town and we're happy to support it.

“I hope it encourages more people to shop locally because it’s so easy to shop online but local businesses depend of people coming in.

“There’s nothing really in or around the area for people to do. If we can put events on for everyone in Spalding, it will help encourage more people to visit the town.”

Spalding councillor Ingrid Sheard hopes the event will change the stigma around Spalding town centre.

She said: “I think our town really warrants us organising more events, and provided we can get support from the public, I think we could create an annual calendar that could increase footfall and bring the community together.

“If we can bring an ambience to the town, it will give visitors a renewed confidence. I think they’ll find a lot of the stigma which has been portrayed over the past few years isn’t correct and our town has a lot to offer – if we can support events like this, we can get our town feeling a bit more vibrant again.”

The Christmas celebration will also host a fancy dress competition - with the winner earning the honour of switching on the new Christmas lights alongside Santa at 7.30pm.

Another highlight is the chance to visit Santa in his Grotto at Calthrops Solicitors, organised by The South Holland District Council Chairman Andrew Woolf.

This year’s Panto cast, Snow White, will be making special appearances, performing on stage and mingling with the crowd and Spalding Academy’s rock band, choir, and ukulele club will also be performing, ensuring a night filled with musical delight.

In addition to the main event, Seasonal Saturdays will take place at the Market every Saturday in December (7, 14, and 21) in the run up to Christmas Day.

These Saturdays will feature free face painting, musical entertainment, a free Christmas craft making stall, seasonal games, brass bands, and roaming street entertainers.

Businesses will be open for late night shopping on Friday, December 6 for The Crescent Christmas Spectacular.

The street will be brought to life between 5pm and 7pm and will feature music from Spalding Community Choir, street food, stalls, hot drinks and a brass band – make sure you don’t forget to visit Santa, who will be staying warm in Bookmark.

See also: Where to see Santa in your street

Businesses which will be opening late tonight (November 29) in Spalding are:

*Robert Goddard – open until 8pm with refreshments

*Holland and Barrett – open until 9pm

*The Original Factory Shop – open until 9pm

*Charmed Interiors – open until 7.30pm with 20% off everything

*Molsoms – open until 8pm for browsing and a chat

*My Local Health Store – open until 8pm with 15% off everything

*Coocumber – open until 9pm with 15% off Sugerhill Brighton clothing, plus mince pies and chocolate

*Penmans – opens until 8pm with Black Friday offers

*Element 78 – open until 8pm, with a free raffle, mulled wine and sweet treats inside

*Sense – open until 9pm

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below…