Caister’s Holy Trinity Church will once again host their Christmas Tree Festival, after a successful event last December. This year there will be 55 fully lit trees, each uniquely decorated by different community groups and businesses. Several hairdressers, bowls clubs, scout groups, police forces, opticians and many others will all be displaying trees and the decorating process has been extremely competitive.

The trees are all six-feet tall and they stand at pew level on stools. Derek George and his wife Vivienne have organised the event and they have been particularly impressed with the wide array of decorations.

“The spectacle last year was beyond our dreams. It was the first year we have done it- and the people who came were surprised, to put it mildly. This year the innovation has been outstanding- some were dressed with tarts and cookies, some with cups and saucers and others with combs and plumbing fittings”, Mr George said.

Visitors to the church are encouraged to donate as they browse the trees, depending on their favourite decorations or specific charities. Each community group that has decorated a tree are permitted to place a charity box at the bottom of their tree. One of the tree exhibitors will be The Greyhound Homefinders as the venue is the Greyhound Stadium’s parish church. Their tree has been decorated by supporter Karen Daynes and it includes felt greyhounds, complete with festive collars. In addition, the star on the top of the tree is a copy of the neon logo which is currently placed at the stadium restaurant.

To encourage other businesses in the area to get on board with the project, Mr George has come up with an inventive idea.

“My wife and I visited businesses in the village asking them to make a donation. In turn we take their business card and make Christmas decorations out of them. We place these on a tree in the porch of the church. The businesses have been brilliant, there have been over 60 who have made a donation”, he said. The festival will be open from from 10:30am-4pm on Tuesday 9th and Friday 12th and from 10am-8pm on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th. There will be a small carol service on the Thursday with the Brownies and Rainbows taking part. The church will also be serving teas and coffees and the address is at Norwich Road, Caister-On-Sea, NR30 5JN.

* Great Yarmouth Minsiter and the Preservation Trust are holding their fourth Christmas Tree and Crib Festival from Friday 12th to Sunday 21st December. People are encouraged to vote for the best tree and crib and the £2 adult entry fee helps to support the fabric and organ of the Minster. To exhibit at the festival contact 01493843647 or visit www.sncpt.co.uk

Is your village hosting a Christmas event? E-mail joe.randlesome@archant.co.uk