BAKEWELL CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

We have just enjoyed the hottest summer on record but the nights are now drawing in, mornings and evenings are becoming cooler and our thoughts must, inevitably, turn towards Christmas!

The seventeenth Festival of Christmas Trees will take place at All Saints’ Parish Church, Bakewell between 11 and 21 December 2025. The church will be full of Christmas trees, mainly “real”, some artificial or created, but all decorated in such a way as to celebrate different aspects of our Bakewell community. Businesses, charities, schools, churches and local organisations will all be represented.

The festival will be opened during a short opening service at 7pm on Thursday, 11 December. This service will be followed by wine and nibbles. The church will then be open daily from 9.30am to 4pm; Sundays 12noon to 4pm. The festival will close with a community carol service at 6pm on Sunday, 21 December.

Light lunches and delicious home made cakes will be served daily in the “Open Door” café from 10am to 3.30pm; Sunday 12.30 to 3.30pm.

Entry is free, with any donations going towards the ongoing cost of maintaining the church.

At 11.15am on Saturday, 13 December, the ever popular Bel Canto ladies’ choir will perform a coffee concert, comprising a variety of seasonal songs and at 7.30pm that evening Bakewell choral society will perform their annual carol concert. Entry to the former is free, though there will be a retiring collection in aid of church funds, and tickets for the latter are £12, available from 07752 624719, from members of the choir or on the door.

On Saturday, 20 December there will be a further seasonal performance by Peak Voices, the Youth theatre and the Silver band, full details of which will be available at a later date.

The tree festival is a joyous beginning to Christmas. The church will look – and smell- spectacular. It has become a Bakewell tradition and is not to be missed.

If you have not been involved in the past, but would like to exhibit a tree this year please contact Dot -01629 814496/ 07752 674719/dot.bushen@live.co.uk or Helen on 07796 447748 helenpope4774@gmail.com for further information.