WELCOME TO OUR 2024 FESTIVAL!

Applications will open in April, and any group interested in taking part will need to send a representative to the Launch Meeting which will be on Wednesday 10th April at 7pm in the Parish Church. It is essential that the person attending this meeting will be actively involved in their groups participation throughout the planning and during the festival. 

The team will provide brief details of any changes for this year’s festival and then give out application packs. New applicants, and some other groups, will be asked to remain for a more detailed briefing. You may stay and complete your forms on the evening (you will need the £15 registration fee and your charity number) or get them to us later. Applications do not close until the end of May, and are not on a first come first served basis. All successful applicants will be informed of their place by the end of June.

If you are interested in organising a tree, but have no personal group to help, we do have information about local and national charities who would welcome your support. Please come to the launch evening or contact us as below.

We do not send out application forms by email. If the ‘lead person’ has any difficulties attending the Launch, they will need to contact us and then come and talk to one of the team at the Festival Desk which will be open in church every Thursday morning 10.30-11.30am from 11th April until applications close.

If you need to contact us please email us at fakenhamchristmastreefestival@gmail.com or phone 01328 864685

Fakenham Christmas Tree Festival – a not to be missed event!

There’s a Christmas Market selling Christmas gifts, crafts and ‘goodies’ –  including small beautifully decorated home made Christmas cakes –  and a book stall full of beautiful new books and similar gifts; a raffle and our ever popular Tombola. Our Church Café is open for refreshments between 10am and 7pm including our famous home made cakes, filled rolls and home made soups. 

Come and visit the crib and write a prayer on a star to hang on one of the special ‘prayer trees’ in the Sanctuary. These prayers will be offered up in a special ceremony during our 10am service on January 5th 2025 – The Feast of Epiphany.

The festival is open from 10.00am – 8.00pm every day except Sunday, when it will be midday – 8pm, after the 10am Festival Service, where the charities and groups represent their work.  Refreshments will be available between 10am and 7pm.

We are happy to welcome leashed, well-behaved dogs. They will not be allowed in the kitchen/cafe areas, but you are welcome to purchase refreshments and consume in other areas of the church.

It will be wonderful to see the church once again buzzing with people enjoying the trees and the celebratory atmosphere, and raising much needed funds for the charities taking part.

It is essential that all coach, school, youth or residential groups booked well in advance,

This is to avoid clashes,  safeguard against overcrowding, and to make sure that all visitors have the best experience possible.  Groups are asked to book for this year [28th Nov – 5th Dec 2024] as soon as possible by ringing Alison on 01328 864685 or contacting the team. at fakenhamchristmastreefestival@gmail.com .

All trees are kindly donated by Fakenham Garden Centre.

2023 – Last year’s festival was wonderful!

A great time was had by all, and the thousands of people who battled through the old church entrance were wowed by the site that greeted them. Over 60 trees all lit up and beautifully decorated – not forgetting the stunning Tree of Life which lit up the font and caught everyone’s eye as they entered the church. Most groups take part to raise money for their charities, or one they support, but nearly all of the volunteers make comments about how much they enjoy being part of the event, making new friends and helping others enjoy the spectacle.

All the money collected in the buckets under the trees goes to the charities. They are responsible for emptying the buckets daily and telling us how much they made when the festival is over. The church makes it’s money from the cafe, Christmas Market, tombola and raffle.

In 2023 the charities made a grand total of  £16,768.71 and the church made £16,858.92. Amazing that the totals should be so close! The individual group results are below.

If you are interested in joining us for this year’s festival (dates above) then  you will need to come to the launch meeting which will be held at 7pm on ‘a Wednesday’ in April (date not decided yet). At that meeting the process and your commitments will be explained, and application forms given out. It is vital that someone who will be actually involved in the festival itself be at that meeting. Dates will be announced here as soon as we know them.