The Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival is a series of events organised by Stowmarket Town Council, St Peter and St Mary's Church and other organisations in the town over the course of the first weekend of advent. This year the festival will be on Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November.

Christmas Extravaganza on Sunday 30th November
The Town Council's main event is the Christmas Extravaganza on Sunday 30th November from 2pm to 5.30pm in the Market Place and Museum of East Anglian Life barn. The event will feature festive music performances on a stage in the Market Place from Stowmarket Middle School, Stowmarket Concert Band, The Stilhouettes and the Andi Hopgood Quartet along with the Light Up a Life Service at 4pm. There will be various stalls and activities for the children including a children's entertainer and a Santas Grotto. There will also be various food stalls and, in the museum barn, mulled wine and a mini craft fayre. It's free to come along so hope you can make it!

The full schedule for the weekend is as follows:

Friday 28th November
10am – 5pm: Christmas Trees for sale at the Museum of East Anglian Life
6.00pm: Presentation of grants to local organisations from the Town Carnival Committee in the ParishChurch followed by The Big Switch On of the Christmas Tree lights in the Parish Church by Mark Murphy & Lesley Dolphin from BBC Radio Suffolk. [doors open 5.45pm]. Over 120 decorated Christmas trees on display in the ParishChurch [free entry] Donations given to the church’s 3Rs Project of Restoration, Renovation and Reordering Stowmarket Concert Band to play in the ParishChurch.
6pm: ‘Live at the Regal’. An evening of great foot-stomping blues, funk, soul and rock with The Back Porch Band and South of the Border at The Regal Theatre. Bar open from 6pm, first act 7.30pm Tickets £8 [£7 concessions] from the box office Tel 01449 612825.

Saturday 29th November
All Day: Car parking in Stowmarket – all day ticket reduced to 50p
9am – 1pm: Indoor Boot Sale in St Peters Hall [next to the library] [free entry] To book a table [£5] phone 01449 678623
9.30am – 2pm: Salvation Army Christmas Fayre at United Reformed Church [20p entry]
10am – 3.30pm: Santa’s Grotto open in the Museum of East Anglian Life [£2 per child]
10am – 3.30pm: Christmas Trees for sale at the Museum of East Anglian Life
10am – 4pm: The Parish Church open for Christmas Tree Festival - including the Bell Tower where the public can see how the bells are rung. [free entry]. Donations given to the church’s 3Rs Project of Restoration, Renovation and Reordering. Carols sung on the hour from 12 noon. Also nativity animals from Jenny's Ark at church.
10am – 4pm: Barrel Organ playing outside the United Reformed Church
2pm – 4pm: Christmas Activities and Crafts for Children in St Peters Hall [£2 per child] no booking necessary
7.30pm: Concert with Castleton Brass Band and Stowmarket Combined Churches Choir in the ParishChurch. A lovely mixture of Christmas songs and carols set amongst the Christmas trees in church making a wonderful atmosphere. Tickets including refreshments £6 adults and £1 school age children available from the Tourist Information Office or the Parish Church Office Tel 01449 774652.

Sunday 30th November
10am: Festival Service at the ParishChurch.
12noon – 5pm: Christmas trees for sale at the Museum of East Anglian Life
10.30am: Morning Service at the United Reformed Church
11.30am – 6pm: The Parish Church open for Christmas Tree Festival [free entry]. Donations given to the church’s 3Rs Project of Restoration, Renovation and Reordering. Carols sung on the hour from 1pm
2pm – 5.30pm: Christmas Extravaganza in the market place with Christmas musical performances from Stowmarket Middle School, Stowmarket Concert Band, a gospel choir and the Andi Hopgood Quartet - plus the Light Up a Life Service at 4pm hosted by St Elizabeth Hospice Chaplain, David Flower. There will also be festive stalls, children’s activities, a children’s entertainer and at 5pm the Christmas lights switched on by a very special guest. Also, throughout the afternoon in the MEAL barn there will be mulled wine, a mini craft fayre and santas grotto.
6pm: Churches Together Advent Service at the Parish Church - collection to be donated to the Mayor's charities.