Scrooge to be chased out of Cheltenham this Christmas as council offers free parking and bus travel
By James Young | 30th October 2019
Two special events will see Cheltenham town centre become the hub for festivities in the lead-up to Christmas.
Marketing Cheltenham and Cheltenham BID have announced that a story, and giant puppet parade, inspired by 'A Christmas Carol' will kick-off the town's Christmas light switch-on on Saturday, November 23.
There will also be a late night shopping event in the centre on Thursday, December 5 with free parking and free bus travel being offered to shoppers.
Kevan Blackadder, director of Cheltenham BID said: "We had a wonderful response to the switch-on event last year and are building on that this year with a new production.
"We're looking forward to families following the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future through the town before the big switch-on.
"The event on December 5th is a new one for us and will be the night to be out shopping in Cheltenham in the run-up to Christmas."
The 'A Christmas Carol' parade will see giant ghost puppets of Christmas past, present and future leave The Brewery, Cambray Place and Montpellier before meeting outside the Queens Hotel for a final showdown with Scrooge.
Father Christmas will then join the fun and lead the festive cheer as the lights around the town come to life.
Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) has worked with Cheltenham-based company, Evenlode Productions, to create the event, which starts at 4.30pm with the light switch-on at 5.30pm.
The BID and Cheltenham Borough Council have also invested in more lights this year, which will see new displays on Winchcombe Street for the first time.
On Thursday, December 5 free parking will be on offer in all of the Cheltenham Borough Council-owned car parks from 1pm.
Stagecoach busses will also offer free bus travel within the town and both the Arle Court and Racecourse Park and Ride sites from the same time thanks to Cheltenham Borough Council, Stagecoach and Cheltenham BID.
The late night shopping event will give shoppers a chance to do their Christmas shopping while enjoying Christmas entertainment, including carol singers and festive buskers. The perfect soundtrack to a Christmassy shopping trip.
Councillor Steve Jordan, leader of the council, said: "We're delighted to be working with Stagecoach and the BID to offer our residents free bus travel, including park and ride, and free parking in our car parks all from 1pm for the late night shopping event this year on 5th December.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for people to try out Cheltenham's great bus services and we hope this will encourage more people to think about their options for travelling into town."
Aside from the Christmas light switch-on, Cheltenham will see the return of its Christmas markets on The Promenade from Thursday 21st November to Saturday 14th December.
Then from Tuesday 17th December to Tuesday 24th December Cheltenham will host the popular Arts and Crafts Market by Cotswolds Markets.
On Thursday, December 5, for the late night shopping event, the last Park and Ride for Arle Court will be later than usual and will run until at least 8pm. The last bus to the racecourse will be at 9pm.
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