In a switch from white to muti-coloured, the Christmas lights in Swanage, Dorset, have been given an update for the 2024 festive season.
There was also a surprise for the crowds who gathered for the official turning on of the lights on Saturday 30th November 2024, as Christmas images were projected for the first time onto The Mowlem’s building in Shore Road.
The child with the lucky golden ticket was Molly who got to press the button to switch on the lights, helped by the mayor and her consort
New look for The Mowlem
Stunning retro injection of colour
Swanage Town Council has agreed a new contract for Christmas lights which will cover the next three years, so there was the opportunity to go for a new look.
There’s still the illuminated globes but there’s a stunning retro injection of colour in the festive lights and the town’s Christmas tree, plus a snowman and a Merry Christmas sign appearing on The Mowlem. This must make Swanage one of the best lit towns in Dorset, if not the UK!
Characters from The Polar Express experience, which is running at Swanage Railway during the Christmas season, performed at the official switch on of the lights, along with local legends Swing Easy with Andrew Cannon and his band.
Spot the difference – The Christmas tree in 2023…
And now the tree with a new twist for 2024
Golden tickets
There were golden tickets for the children and the lucky number drawn belonged to Molly who had the honour to press the button to switch on the sparkling lights.
With the weather dry and relatively warm for the time of year, there was a good turnout of local residents and visitors all enjoying a very traditional start to the Christmas season.
Santa made his first appearance this season along Shore Road as the crowds started to gather
Christmas images projected onto The Mowlem were a surprise addition to the festive lights
A traditional Christmas in Institute Road
Artisans on the Beach 10th anniversary
Earlier that day on Saturday 30th November 2024, the Artisans on the Beach market opened selling handcrafted gifts from Swanage’s beach huts. The event which is celebrating its 10th anniversary will run until Wednesday 1st January 2025 on selected dates.
Opened by Swanage town mayor Tina Foster, accompanied by her consort and husband Les Parkinson, the mayor had the difficult job of choosing the winning best dressed hut.
In the end, Gold went to Helen Hutson, Silver to Alan Stephen and the Bronze award to Carolyne Bell.
The Gold winner of the best dressed hut went to Helen Hutson, who is taking part for the first time with her Christmas wreaths and decorations
Silver went to Alan Stephen who makes beautiful objects out of glass
Carolyne Bell who makes Christmas themed miniatures out of polymer clay, scooped the Bronze prize
“Unique and often quite quirky”
One of the volunteer community organisers of Artisans on the Beach, Karen Bonniface said:
“It’s great to be back for our 10th year – I was one of the first seven craftspeople to be part of this event in 2014 and we’ve certainly grown since!
“The whole idea behind the market is to give local people an easy way to sell their hand made goods in the run up to Christmas. Everyone helps each other and we all chat to each other and socialise – you can’t feel isolated and on your own here.
“Unlike the big Christmas markets like Winchester and Bath everything sold here has been handcrafted in some way. Nothing is allowed to be sold which has been bought to sell on, which means that the goods are unique and often quite quirky.
“There’s also plenty of things which are reasonably priced, so children can spend their pocket money and buy some lovely presents for their family and friends!”
Weather permitting, around 30 of the beach huts will open each Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with many open earlier in the week too, until Wednesday 1st January 2025.
Swanage town mayor Tina Foster opened the Artisans on the Beach event and was interested to see more of florist Delicate Hope’s (centre) hand made gifts, pictured here with her mother Hazel Weaves (left)
Community organiser Karen Bonniface is celebrating 10 years of the event
Making good use of the beach huts in the winter
More festivities to come
On Saturday 7th December 2024, Station Road and Institute Road will be closed for the Swanage Christmas Market, with King’s Road East reversed to allow traffic to get to South Swanage.
With the Swanage Christmas Market run by Swanage and Purbeck Rotary, the Artisans by the Beach craft market and the town’s enviable selection of independent shops, there’s plenty of reasons to visit Swanage in the run up to Christmas.
That’s not to forget Swanage Railway’s The Polar Express, plus the Swanage Christmas lights, an experience in themselves!
Watch the Christmas lights switch on
Further information
- More about Artisans on the Beach
- Swanage Christmas market is on Saturday 7th December 2024
- Book The Polar Express
