Downton Christmas Tree Festival returns this DecemberThe Downton Christmas Tree Festival will return to St Laurence Church on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, bringing together the local community for a festive weekend of Christmas trees, music, refreshments and more.This year, we’re delighted to be welcoming a range of local musicians and groups who will be providing entertainment throughout the festival. The festivities will get underway on Friday 4 December, when local group Shantoosy will help us officially open the event.The 2026 festival will be raising money for Downton Primary School, Trafalgar School at Downton and St Laurence Church, and there are plenty of ways to get involved and support the event.Applications are now open for individuals, families, community groups, organisations and businesses who would like to enter a Christmas tree, wreath or exhibit into the festival. The application form can be found below, with entries closing on Friday 27 November.As ever, we’ll be serving plenty of delicious homemade refreshments throughout the weekend, and we would be very grateful for donations of cakes and other homemade treats.Our popular luxury gift stall will also be returning. If you have any new, surplus or unwanted gifts that you would be happy to donate, we’d love to hear from you.New for 2026, we’ll also be introducing a toy stall. If you’re having a clear-out before Christmas and have good-quality used toys, games, jigsaw puzzles or similar items that are looking for a new home, we would be delighted to receive them. We can arrange collection locally or organise a convenient time for donations to be dropped off at the church.Finally, we’re looking for volunteers to help throughout the festival weekend. Whether you can help welcome visitors, serve refreshments or lend a hand on the toy and gift stalls, we’d really appreciate your support. Volunteer slots are usually around 90 minutes, so even if you can only spare a little time, it can make a real difference.To volunteer, arrange a donation or find out more, please contact Rose Bloomfield at rosannabishop@btinternet.com.Whether you enter a tree, bake a cake, donate an item, volunteer for a shift or simply come along and enjoy the festival, we’d love to see you at St Laurence Church this December and help us make the 2026 festival a wonderful community event.
