Oswestry celebrated its first Christmas Experience on Saturday, and while the clouds glowered and spat rain, and people rushed round shopping, little ‘uns (and not so little ‘uns) had a splendid time, whether visiting Santa on a steam train, or making lovely things – like tissue lanterns at The Qube, or punched tin candle holders on Festival Square or being completely entranced at Booka, when three life sized window dolls representing characters from the story of ‘The Nutcracker’ suddenly came to life and twinkled and twirled around.
Things were happening all around the town, a Victorian Christmas at The Willow Gallery, with more activities for children, to ‘The Pirates’ showing at our bijoux cinema and theatre@ The Attfield, to vintage fair ground rides and a real live manger, complete with a real (very patient) donkey.
To round it off, we had a lantern parade, with freshly made lanterns aglowing, led by the tall and slightly wonderland figure of the Town Crier, as we moved in the dusk from Bailey Head, underneath a canopy of Christmas Lights, to Festival Square, complete with carollers and snow.
Meanwhile, judging b y the bulging carrier bags being lugged around town by slightly wild-eyed parents, the C hristmas Shopping experience was also a success.
A big ‘Thank You’ to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen!
You know, Oswestry really is a smashing town, in spite of the naysayers and doom-mongerers, and I think all of us, whether shops, businesses, local councils or townspeople have its best interest at heart. Perhaps, just sometimes, we should take a lesson from our children and just enjoy the sparkly Christmas lights, the pervading sense of good-will and live the moment – and have fun.
Wishing you a peaceful and happy Christmas!
John and Isabelle at The Best of Oswestry
