The first Friday
Every year, on the first Friday in December, Crowthorne high street is closed to all traffic from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. for the annual ‘late night’ Christmas shopping event. Stalls are set up along both sides of the road, selling all sorts of goodies. Many of the shops offer free mince pies, mulled wine and coffee.
Susannah, James and I went that night. It was amazing to see how transformed the street was and it was thronged with people and a surprisingly large number of friendly and well-behaved dogs.
Carol singers representing all ages of the community, from little angels from a local school to bigger people in Father Christmas hats, sang for the passing crowds. Live music was everywhere, inside the shops and outside the library and other locations.
It was good to see so many people out and about and the weather played nicely, too. It had been a very cold day but it was dry and seemed warmer in the evening. Maybe that was warmth given off by the crowds!
A great deal of effort went into this event from the organisers and there was a general feeling of goodwill. It’s a pleasant place to live.
My photographs
are rather fuzzy, I’m afraid!
It's easy to get fuzzy photographs when jostling with happy crowds, but they are still beautiful. I can't imagine any shops or stalls here giving free anything!
ReplyDeleteIt's a cunning ploy to entice people to offer their custom . . . ;-)
DeleteMulled wine and hot coffee are very wise offerings in a cold function in the open air. I would love them both.
ReplyDeleteThey were certainly very popular.
DeleteLooks delightful, I missed our village do last Friday, these bugs are still holding on.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that you missed your do. Get well for Christmas.
DeleteHow very festive. The simple pleasures of the season are the best.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Everyone was so cheerful and well-mannered.
ReplyDeleteGood to know your weather was decent for this. Our Christmas Parade was canceled on Sunday Nov. 26 due to pouring rain. I did walk downtown to see the few shop windows decorated. But no shop had near the pretty windows they did 2 years ago when I went. Most of our small town now has been taken over by 3 local colleges and the hospital for office and class rooms. But at least they reconstructed the buildings instead of letting them fall into ruin.
ReplyDeleteIt's not nice seeing empty business premises so it's good, as you say, that they have been put to good use.
DeleteCrowthorne Christmas shopping event looks a fun place to get into the festive mood. Well done to everybody who makes it such a success x
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe how busy it was. The businesses deserve their success.
DeleteLooks lovely, so Christmassy x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
It was difficult to take photographs with so many people around, but one fuzzy photo is like any other! x
DeleteHow absolutely delightful, and I'm glad to read the weather gods were obliging as well! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt couldn't have been better - cold and clear but with no wind.
DeleteLooks wonderfully festive.
ReplyDeleteThere are twinkling lights all over the place - some houses really go to town with whole tableaux of reindeer, rabbits, fairies . . .
ReplyDelete