Thame prepares for a Santa invasion!

A family of reindeer to pet, a miniature railway to chug up the High Street on and an extended lantern parade will all be part of Thame’s Christmas event 2015, which this year will be extended into the following Sunday, with a three kilometer Santa Dash organised by the Florence Nightingale Hospice and Thame Lions.

The lantern parade for children, which was a huge success last year, will be even bigger and brighter this year with parents, grandparents and members of the Thame & District Day Centre being encouraged to be involved.

Friday, December 5, 2014, is the date for your diary for the big Christmas lights switch-on and stage event, and Sunday, December 7, 10am in the town centre, for the Santa Dash. Anyone can register at www.fnhospice.org.uk  to take part to run, jog, or walk the buggy-friendly 3K route .

The theme for the event will be ‘Santa Convention’ and all the visitors and those taking part on the Friday night and the Santa Dash, are being encouraged to wear Santa hats and costumes. The reindeer will be housed in a 12ft pen in the High Street and although the public won’t be able to enter the pen, they will be able to stroke the deer through the picket fencing.

Once again there will be a ‘town trail’ around various shops in the town to spot a hidden object and shop owners are being encouraged to stay open late. Businesses not within the road closure area will be given the opportunity by the town council to have a free stall nearer the action.

The stage events will start at 6pm and last for around 60 minutes, with several local groups including Thame Players, Stagecoach Thame, the Romey Louise Dance Academy, Thame Youth Theatre, the Pauline Quirke Academy, Thame Chamber Choir as well as the primary schools taking part. The winner of the Christmas Trail will be presented with their prize, as will the winner of the competition to name the theme of next year’s Thame Carnival who will win an exciting toy from Wally’s Toy Shop in Thame, and three months Junior Gold Membership to Racquets, Thame.