The annual Christmas Tree Festival in St Mary’s Parish Church has been running now for over 10 years, and we are looking to hold it once again this year. This is a community-wide event and open to organisations and groups in and around Uttoxeter.
This year it is proposed to hold the festival from Saturday 19th to Thursday 24th December inclusive, from 10.30am to 3.30pm each day, except Sunday when the hours are 11.00am to 3.30pm.
Each year there is a different theme. For instance, in 2025 the theme was “Christmas Around the World”.
Setting up usually takes place on several days before the festival and this year it is proposed to set up on 16th, 17th, and 18th December.
Due to spacing requirements, we ask that trees are no more than 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall; any lights must be battery powered and there must be no edible items. After the festival the trees are then left in during our Christmas services.
In addition, in 2025, Margaret Nicholls called on all sewers (experienced or just enthusiastic!) to make fabric panels to put on the end of the pews. Basically, these were mini quilts measuring approximately 10 inches wide by 20 inches long with a pattern applique. The theme for the panels was anything related to Christmas. Due to the response from visitors and church-goers alike, we are looking to repeat this in 2026.
Over a thousand people have seen the trees during recent festivals.