Staying in Devizes This Christmas; What’s Happening?

Featured Image: Tanya Jurkiewicz Photography

Oooh, exciting, are you excited? I know I am; been good(ish) all year, no bag of coal for me. With the DOCA Winter Festival coming this Friday and Saturday, and so long as Devizes Town Band play Stop the Cavalry, that’s my calling and I drop my humbug and start accepting it, and, in the words of the gurt lush Elton, I’m stepping into Christmas, joining together and watching the snow fall forever and ever, though it’s more likely to be this perpetual drizzle. But what’s to do over the yule in Devizes? Well, I think we’ve got it all jingling here, so break out your eggnog……

Now, before we begin and you’re sitting comfortably, note this is for Devizes only, and perhaps our surrounding villages, but more countywide stuff is listed on our event calendar, and it’s updating all the time, so do check that out. Ticket links and more details of all events listed here can be found on the calendar too.

Also, while I’m here, do check out the windows on display throughout this week as part of Window Wanderland. Take a stroll around Devizes and see the fantastic window decorations, dressed to the theme of ‘Look To The Future’. The decorations are up now until 26th November, illuminated from 5-9pm every evening. Look on the map to see where you can find the windows around town, full map available at tinyurl.com/docawindows23

Okay, here we go, this weekend sees the DOCA Winter Festival, incorporating the light switch on, fireworks, markets, music, and of course our lantern parade. Friday, in the MarketPlace, you know the score, you’ve done it before. Oh, and on Saturday too. You can follow this up with the Chicago Blues Trio at Long Street Blues Club, Stones Throw at The Three Crowns, or a Christmas lantern parade Karaoke Party at The Pelican, on Friday that is. Saturday you’ll find Adam Woodhouse at The Three Crowns, and The Worried Men at The Southgate, both come highly recommended from us. Polish off your early Christmassy doings with some rock n roll from the James Oliver Band at The Southgate on Sunday.

And just like some tinselly magic fairy dust, we’re into December with our woolly bobble hats and gran’s knitted mittens. Jack & the Beanstalk is the pantomime at the Wharf Theatre this year, and it opens Friday 1st, running behind you, oh no it it isn’t, oh yes it is, until 9th December, but please do get in quick on this one, tickets usually sell out faster than Santa eats breakfast on Christmas eve.

The Pelican Inn has a Christmas Fair on the 1st December, from 4-9, and a Santa’s Grotto too! Friday night is 80s disco night at the Moonrakers.

Santa’s Grotto at the Pelican Inn, Devizes

Devizes Lions will be out touring the town from Friday 1st to Thursday 21st December with a cheery Santa, lights and music. Starting at 5:30pm each evening and finishing by 7:45pm at the latest. See below for the routes………

or you can view or download a copy from their website: www.devizeslions.org.uk You will be able to follow Santa’s route each evening in real time from their Facebook Page.

Santa’s Sleigh will be at the Lidl supermarket on Saturday 2nd December and at Morrisons’ supermarket on Saturday 16th December. Devizes Lions will also have a Christmas collection in The Brittox on Thursday 14th December.

Please Note:

Cul-de-sacs

The float will normally wait at the entrance to cul-de-sacs and Santa’s helpers will tell people where he is waiting to greet the children

Times

The float will start at 5.30 each evening and finish no later than 7:45

Weather

Devizes Lions cannot guarantee that they will be able to adhere to the published programme due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

The Truzzy Boys plays the Three Crowns that first Saturday of the month, LunaBarge plays The Southgate and on Sunday Jon Amor Trio will have their celebrated residency, with a special guest.

Christmas Wreath making workshop at Chirton School on Sunday 3rd, and the Groom Family’s Houseparty fundraiser at Devizes Town Hall.

Late night opening at HollyChocs in Poulshot, if you want to get really chocolaty on Thursday 7th!

Friday 8th, and there’s a Fun Quiz Night at Wiltshire Museum, the wonderful Strange Folk grace The Southgate, and People Like Us party at The Condado Lounge.

Saturday 9th is Devizes Lions Christmas Fair at The Corn Exchange from 9am-2:30pm. The White Horse Opera Christmas Concert is at St John’s Church, James Mitchell plays the Three Crowns, and Black Nasty are at the Southgate and Soupchick have a feast, see above. Sunday 10th sees Sunflower Events’ Christmas Fair & Craft Market at the Corn Exchange.

Devizes Adventure! The theme for this year is ‘Room at the Inn’

This December, the life-sized Advent Calendar will open once again to reveal a different festive, creative, interactive, and fun display each evening (5:30 – 6:30pm) in the garden of the British Lion pub.

Come and say hello on the 15th December when DOCA will be hosting the Advent Calendar for the evening, and come to see the other fantastic offerings throughout the month – there will be prizes for those who come to all 24 nights.

Friday 15th sees our upcoming favs, Nothing Rhymes With Orange at The Southgate. And on Saturday 16th the first boat launches from the Wharf for the Kenavon Venture Santa Cruise. These run until the 23rd December, but booking in advance is essential. Glad to hear Breakfast With Santa is on again this year at Devizes Fire Station, on Saturday 16th too.

There’s a Christmas Market in Hillworth Park on Saturday 16th too. The SODs Charity Christmas Gig is fundraising for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, at Devizes Town Hall, The Coco Club Christmas Ball at the Bear Hotel and the Big Sound Choir have their Christmas Concert at St John’s. Christmas for you raver families starts also on Saturday 16th, when the Exchange plays host to The Family Ravers Christmas Party, see below….

Aside from all these Christmassy things to do, also on Saturday 16th Fullhouse play Frankie Miller at Long Street Blues Club, Phase Rotate are at The Southgate, and Sour Apple play at The Three Crowns for the birthday boy landlord, Simon.

On Sunday 17th, Devizes Young Farmers Tractor & Tinsel Christmas Market at the Market Place, raising funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Finish this off with an afternoon with Andrew Hurst at The White Bear from 5pm.

Oooh, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas now, as by the following weekend, Funked Up have their Christmas Party the Pelican on Friday 22nd, and One Trick Pony has her fundraiser at the The Southgate, see poster. Illingworth are at the Three Crowns on Saturday 23rd, and Marlborough’s finest blues ensemble Barrelhouse blesses The Southgate. Then, and only then, you can open your socks and Lynx deodorant sets!

Christmas Eve all I have so far is this from the Crown at Bishops Cannings:

After the Quality Street tin only has those toffee pennies no one likes left, tribute Mick Jogger has his Rolling Stones Experience at the Corn Exchange on Friday 29th, Sound Hog Disco, Karaoke at the Three Crowns on Saturday 30th, and the only new year partes I know of is The Crown at Bishops Cannings who have the Chicken Teddies, and in town, Devizes Scooter Club’s, at The Cavalier. Triblies off to them, but there must be some others, and some serious updates to this in general, so do tell us if we missed anything and we’ll paste you in quicker than pulling a cracker!

Wass that Brah? Just cos I’m 50 I have you know I can still pull a cracker pretty darn quickly…..you’d be surprised how quickly I can pull a cracker!