Tag Archives: Christmas

News

Lights switch-on sparks festive cheer in Sutton Coldfield

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The festive season is officially aglow in Royal Sutton Coldfield. This year’s display features 230 energy-efficient LED lights across the town, providing brighter illumination while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional bulbs. You can see the sparkling Christmas lights in the following locations:

  • Sutton Coldfield Town Centre
  • Boldmere High Street
  • Mere Green
  • Walmley
  • Wylde Green
  • Falcon Lodge
  • Minworth
  • Whitehouse Common
  • Chester Road, Kingsbury Road, Walsall Road
  • Beeches Walk, Church Hill Parade, Clarence Road, Dugdale Crescent, Hollyfield Road, Little Boldmere
  • King Edward Square

Festive Christmas Trees, funded by the Town Council, are also located at: Dugdale Crescent, Falcon Lodge, Harvest Fields, Mere Green, Minworth, Walmley, and Wylde Green.

🅿️ Free festive parking and travel scheme until Jan 4, 2026

To complement the lights and boost the local economy, the Town Council is running a free holiday parking and travel initiative.

Parking details:

Days & Times: Thursdays from 4pm, Fridays from 4pm, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Participating Car Parks

  • Station Street
  • Upper & Lower Reddicroft
  • Mill Street
  • Anchorage Road
  • South Parade
  • Duke Street

The scheme also includes free bus travel and cycle hire within the area, making it seamless to visit Royal Sutton Coldfield’s town centre and local shopping parades this Christmas.

🗣️ Supporting the town centre

Cllr Simon Ward, leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said:

“I’m pleased to see the Town Council continuing to support our town centre through initiatives like the Festive Lights and Festive Travel Scheme. This outlines our commitment to local businesses and helps attract more visitors, making travel easier for shoppers during the busiest time of year.”

Plan Your Visit: Experience the festive magic, enjoy free parking on weekends and evenings, and support Royal Sutton Coldfield’s brilliant local businesses this holiday season.

Christmas Trees are also funded by the Town Council at Dugdale Crescent, Falcon Lodge, Harvest Fields, Mere Green, Minworth, Walmley and Wylde Green.

News

Join the festivities at Sutton Coldfield’s second Christmas Market

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Sutton Coldfield visitors afre in for a magical Victorian-themed Christmas Market on The Parade in Sutton Coldfield, when it returns for its second year across two festive weekends in December.

After listening to visitor feedback, this year’s market has been condensed into two vibrant, four-day weekends to ensure a fantastic atmosphere and a bustling, fully occupied artisan marketplace.

Market dates and opening times

The Sutton Coldfield Christmas Market will take place across two weekends and will be  officially opened by MP Sir Andrew Mitchell on December 11th at 4pm.

  • Weekend 1: Thursday 11th – Sunday 14th December
  • Weekend 2: Thursday 18th – Sunday 21st December

Opening Hours:

  • Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
  • Sundays: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

What to expect

Located on The Parade, the market will feature:

  • Over 60 Unique Stalls: Browse a wide selection of artisan gifts, handmade crafts, seasonal food, and festive treats from local traders.
  • Festive Victorian Theme: Stallholders will be dressed in period costume, creating a charming and immersive experience.
  • Brightly Lit Gazebos: The market will be beautifully illuminated, providing a warm and vibrant atmosphere after dark.
  • Live Family Entertainment: Enjoy stilt walkers, a walk-in snow globe, and visits from Father Christmas and his elves.
  • A Less Crowded Alternative: Discover a unique and more relaxed shopping experience compared to the larger Birmingham Christmas Market.

Free parking available

Enjoy Free Festive Parking!
To make your visit easier, Sutton Coldfield Town Council is funding free parking in all Birmingham City Council-owned car parks in the town centre:

  • After 4pm on Thursdays and Fridays
  • All day on Saturdays and Sundays

Address: The Christmas Market is located on The Parade, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1PH.

Support local this Christmas

The Sutton Coldfield Christmas Market is a partnership between Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BIDand LSD Promotions (organisers of the Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market). The goal is to boost footfall and support the local economy.

“While you’re here, please support our local businesses in Sutton Coldfield town centre.” – Michelle Baker, BID Manager.

Travel

A Christmas Turkey surprise

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Country has so much offer

Travel by Bill McCarthy

Think of Christmas and you probably think of the actual festive bird, and not associate it with Turkey, the country.
Turkey, Now known as Turkiye, it is a vast nation that spans two continents. 
It offers plenty for tourists, but the legend of Santa Claus may be something of a surprise. Experts in the country say they have uncovered the tomb of St Nicholas, who is believed to be the inspiration for Santa. 

A Christian bishop of Greek origin who was known for giving to the poor, he lived between the years 270 and 343 and the legends are believed to have inspired the Christmas tales we tell today that Santa Claus will bring presents if you’ve been good. St Nicholas’ tomb was found in St Nicholas Church in Demre, in the Antalya district of southern Turkey.

It’s a country of diverse and beautiful regions and further west is the popular tourist area of Marmaris on the Turkish riviera.
It hosts miles of beaches with a range of watersports, including jet skiing and windsurfing with plenty of bars and cafes nearby. 
We booked a holiday package with easyJet and flew from Birmingham to stay  in the large, but good quality Prime Beach Hotel.

It is a couple of miles outside the old town of Marmaris, with the actual beach on its doorstep. Busy, but not so busy as to be uncomfortable.
The area hosts many hotels, shops, restaurants and tourist attractions as well as all sorts of excursions and historical visits.
But it’s much more than sun, sea and sand. For those who want to split their time between sunbathing and absorbing the region’s culture and history, there are fewer finer places. 

Like many countries, its tourism has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, and then Turkey suffered the devastating blow of the giant earthquakes in the east of the country, but it is a country with so much to offer and an influx of tourists will have a major beneficial effect on its economy after such disasters. 

It’s a four-hour flight from Birmingham. For those worried about security issues, don’t be, as airport measures are strict with visitors having to go through an initial security check before even getting into the airport proper. Then they go through the usual check-in process. 

Before becoming modern-day Turkey, a state founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923, the region was colonised and conquered by many races, from the early Hittites, through to the Greeks, the Romans, Seljuks, Byzantines and the Ottoman Empire. 
Marmaris is known for its striking contrast between modern resort life and ancient history.

Marmaris Castle, which dates back to the 16th century, overlooks the harbour and provides panoramic views of the town and the sea. Now a museum, it offers visitors a glimpse into the region’s past by showcasing historic artefacts from the ancient civilisations that once inhabited the area.
In addition to the historical sites, the surrounding pine-clad mountains create a dramatic backdrop that invites outdoor enthusiasts to explore scenic hiking trails, enjoy nature walks, or take boat tours along the coastline and visit the islands, again pine clad. 

These stop off for a swim around the islands before a visit to the bustling market town of Turunc to catch up with your holiday presents.
Back at Marmaris, the area offers beaches, with their golden sands and turquoise waters and are ideal for swimming or relaxing.

Activities of fly and flop the choice is yours with all inclusive taking the financial strain.

Information:

easyJet is expanding its Birmingham operations, visit

https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/holidays-from-birmingham

Business, News

Give a gift of care for Sutton hospice

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  • St Giles Hospice Clinical Director Katie Burbridge with the Merry Messages poster
    St Giles Hospice Clinical Director Katie Burbridge with the Merry Messages poster

Call to support Katie’s Christmas appeal

St Giles Hospice is asking people to come together and give the gift of care this Christmas by supporting Katie’s Christmas Appeal.

The charity has two local hospices, one in Lindridge Road Sutton and the other in Lichfield, together with shops in Mere Green and Boldmere.

Even though we can’t currently all meet up in person as we usually would, St Giles hopes local families, businesses, schools and groups will feel a little closer to each other this festive season by signing up to take part in its simple, fun and COVID-19-safe fundraising activities.

The hospice has launched Katie’s Christmas Appeal to support its work caring for patients living with a terminal illness, and their families, at the end of a year in which it has been forced to close its shops during two national lockdowns and cancel most of its organised fundraising events – including its popular annual Christmas Fair.

The campaign is named after Katie Burbridge, the Clinical Director at St Giles Hospice. Katie said: “Our care doesn’t stop at Christmas time. This festive season our staff will be creating special memories with patients and their families – for many of whom, this Christmas may sadly be their last.

“The cost of providing inpatient care on Christmas Day alone is over £16,000. It’s only thanks to the generosity of our supporters that we can give the gift of care. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for allowing us to be there for local people at this really important time of year.”

Among the campaign’s suggested activities are making a donation and donning festive knitwear for Jolly Jumper Day on December 11; chipping in and writing a note on the Merry Messages poster in lieu of Christmas cards and keeping kids amused by donating and downloading Olly’s Christmas Activity Pack.

Or fundraisers can use the props provided to post an Elfie Selfie (#StGilesElfieSelfie); take part in a Secret Santa Swap by donating to St Giles the funds they would usually spend on a secret Santa gift; or support ‘Donate Your Christmas Plate’ by making a donation to help fund Christmas meals for hospice patients.

Elinor Eustace, Income Generation Director at St Giles Hospice, said: “With the cancellation of so many events throughout 2020, we’re all the more determined to have a ‘cracking’ Christmas this year!

St Giles Hospice in Lindridge Road, Sutton Coldfield, will be taking part in the activities

“We may all be socially distanced at the moment, but we hope that people will have lots of festive fun as they raise much-needed funds and update their St Giles Christmas Stocking Totaliser poster along the way. They can use our festive-themed fundraising ideas in or out of work, or with family and friends.

“Our fundraising team are always on hand to help with ideas and support, and we look forward to seeing your own personal touches too. Whether you do your bit in a novelty knit, or donate your Christmas plate, please support us this festive season and help make Christmas count for our patients and their families – we’ve never needed you more than we need you today.”

Supporters who sign up for a Festive Fundraising Pack will receive a list of fabulous fundraising ideas, a Merry Messages Poster, cut out props for their Elfie Selfie, and a St Giles Stocking Totaliser to help them keep track of their progress. Printed packs are also available on request, which include a money box, for a recommended donation of £5.

Anyone wanting further support can email the St Giles fundraising team on fundraising@stgileshospice.com or call 01543 432538. They will be happy to provide fundraisers with additional materials, such as a collection tin, cardboard collection box or St Giles piggy bank.

For further information about the appeal or to request a fundraising pack visit www.stgileshospice.com/how-you-can-help-us/fundraise-with-us/christmas-appeal/