Andover's preparing to celebrate, with the Christmas Festival taking place this Friday November 22, between 5pm-8pm in the town centre.

The event will include three stages with 19 different acts presenting festive performances.

The Bridge Street Stage will showcase local bands and choirs; the Town Mills Stage will throw the Christmas disco with Ben Tuffin from Love Andover Radio and the Guildhall stage will host local choirs and dance troupes and the Christmas Lights switch on.

The Christmas lights switch on will begin at 6:55pm, presented by the Mayor of Andover Heather Neate and Father Christmas who will be showing off the new Christmas lights bought by Andover Town Council.  

The festival is also offering multiple chances to see the big man in red, with children able to meet Father Christmas and his elves in the Chantry Centre for £5 per child and receive a gift. For a photo with Santa and his sleigh, you can visit him at Town Mills Riverside Park, any donations here will be for the Countess of Brecknock Hospice.

Guaranteed to enchant and entertain, The Living Snow Globe by the Show Globe will be performing at the top of the High Street, with each performance lasting 30 minutes.

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Andover Library will have two free performances alternating throughout the festival. Amanda from Merry Go Round Storytelling will be interactively telling The Witch Who Tried to Steal Christmas while magician David Major will be putting on his Christmas Magic with Major Magic show.

The Christmas night market will showcase local independent businesses along Bridge Street. The festival will also have food and drink stalls along Riverside Park with some local cafes also staying open later to serve food.

There will also be fairground rides and games at the bottom of the High Street and free face painting inside the Chantry Centre. Christmas characters will be also wandering around the town for the evening.

Due to the festival there will be road closures at:

  • Andover High Street- between Newbury St and Bridge St- 10:00-22:00
  • Bridge Street- between Western Avenue and London St- 10:00-22:00
  • Waterloo Court- from the outside of the back of Unit 62A Chantry Centre- 17:00-20:00

Parking for the festival will be available in the town centre and is free after 4pm.

Further festive activities will be happening on the weekend with a Christmas grotto at the Chantry Centre on Saturday 10am-3pm and a Christmas quiz night at White Hart Hotel on Bridge Street 7-9pm on Sunday.

For more information on the festival visit https://www.inandover.co.uk/events/andover-christmas-festival-2024