Christmas Tree Festival & Market – Opening Times & Covid Safety
Festival Opening Times:
December 12th December 10am – 4pm, and then every day until ….
Christmas Eve 10am-5pm (with nativity film playing).
Many trees will then remain up as long as they last during the 12 days of Christmas with church open as usual each day.
Entry fee: free, but please donate to the 5 charities by payment card if possible, when you visit,
or donated ahead of time now – just go to our special…
Donate online now here – Justgiving Christmas Tree Festival Charities Donations page here
The Market ‘Stalls’
Please see here the MARKET ‘STALLS’ page for details of the Christmas goodies we hope to make available for purchase as ‘non-touch unmanned tables’ between the Christmas Trees at the Festival Market this year.
Brightening everybody’s preparations for Christmas this year we hope, St Mary’s Charities Christmas Tree Festival 2020 will be open 10-4pm every day at St Mary’s Church from 12th December for the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas Day. The festival is free but all donations will go to the 5 local charities chosen this year as St Mary’s Christmas charities (you can donate online here via our Festival Justgiving page too). Thank you so much to all groups, businesses, families and individuals who have contributed or created a tree this year – wonderful, thank you! Still time to do so – just get in touch.
Visiting the Festival & Covid Safety Guidelines
The Christmas Tree Festival & Market will be following strict covid safety measures and guidelines, including quarantining all market goods for at least 72 hours before opening, sanitising any touched surfaces between visitors and twice a day. Please wear mask and sanitise hands before entering. There will be a steward on the door to help with anything, and with card reader for any donations. No browsing market produce sadly – please only touch anything on a stall if you then purchase the item (or put it for quarantine with the steward). Only the particular number of people allowed at that time according to government guidelines, will be able to be present in the church at one time, but we hope nobody will mind waiting a few minutes outside if necessary. Sadly we can’t offer any refreshments, tea, mulled wine, hot choc etc this year……next year!
The 5 Local St Mary’s Christmas Charities 2020
All money raised at the Christmas Tree Festival will go to these charities 5 local charities, chosen by Shalford & Peasmarsh Church PCC for our Christmas Charities 2020:
Cherry Trees is a small charity in East Clandon, founded in 1980 providing home-from-home specialist short breaks/respite for children and young adults 0-19 with a range of complex disabilities including learning, physical and sensory requirements. Their families can have a rest knowing their children will be cared for be it for a few hours, weekend or short holiday away.
Guildford Action supports people experiencing homelessness as well as isolated families. They aim to meet basic needs and maximise potential through group work, individual casework and outreach.
Seeds for Development Founded by Alison Hall from Shalford who realised that millions of Ugandan farmers didn’t have enough money to buy seeds to grow their basic crops and lived in poverty as a result. 13 later the charity has supported over 3,000 farmers by providing seeds and has expanded activities to include education, empowerment and community support.
Age UK Shalford and Peasmarsh A local, independent charity which is not affiliated to a national charity . Supports the elderly and promotes independent living in Shalford and Peasmarsh parish. Provides financial help to Shalford Autumn Club and Shalford Lunch Club, organises the Annual Shalford Village Hall Day, and supports local residents whenever possible.
Crossroads provides information, advice and practical support to unpaid carers of all ages and the people they care for, including carer breaks.
Shalford Summer Market & Music Festival 