After the ‘lockdown’ Christmas of 2020, and the rather restrained festive season of 2021, Ruddington’s celebrations in 2022 look as if they might just be the biggest and best ever!
That’s certainly the case for this weekend’s ‘Ruddington Christmas Market’ (on Saturday December 3rd) which, as previously reported, will comprise over a hundred indoor and outdoor stalls of food, drink and gifts, two covered pop-up bars and stages of live music, and children’s activities. Now organised by Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP) it will take place along both High Street and Church Street (road closures will be in force) – with more stalls inside St Peter’s Church, Ruddington Methodist Church Hall, the Framework Knitters’ Museum and St Peter’s Rooms from 11am until 5pm. The White Horse Inn is also running its own ‘Christmas Market’ between the same times. You can find more details >>HERE<<.
However, that’s just one of numerous festive events throughout December, which kick off this week:-
On Thursday 1st December the Salvation Army Band will be returning to St Peter’s Church for a ‘Christmas Concert’ from 7.30pm. We’re invited along to enjoy the music and sing many of our favourite Christmas carols. Entrance is FREE, and mulled wine and mince pies will be served, although donations to the Salvation Army will be most welcome.
Other notable Christmas dates at St Peter’s Church are:
- Sun 4th Dec 10.30am – Christmas Puppet Show with ‘Altogether’ family service
- Sun 4th Dec 7pm – Service of Remembrance for those who have died
- Mon 12th Dec 6.30pm – Ruddington and District Choral Society – Come and sing Messiah (>>DETAILS<<)
- Sun 18th Dec 7pm – Carol Concert with the Ruddington Community Choir
- Sat 24th Dec 4pm and 6pm – Christingle services
- Sat 24th Dec 11pm – Midnight Communion service
- Sun 25th Dec 10am – Chocolate Nativity
Church leader Liz Mack says they’re also looking for people to help them make the 400 or so Christingles: “It will be on the 22nd Dec from 11.30am in ‘The Hermitage’. It’s really fun and we always end up eating a lot of sweets. It’s great for families so long as the children are over 5 – as it involves spiky cocktail sticks!”
On Friday 2nd December, the Friends of St Peter’s Junior School have their annual ‘Christmas Fair’ from 6pm to 8pm. Adult entrance is £1 whilst Children get in FREE. Attractions include a chocolate tombola, mulled wine, hook a reindeer, Year 6 Enterprise, tinsel pull and lots of traders stalls. The poster is below – which you can >>CLICK<< for more details:
From this weekend 3rd & 4th December – and the two Saturdays and Sundays after that – Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre is inviting you to ‘Christmas in Ruddington 2022’ between 10am and 4pm each day.
Whilst admission is free, organisers say: “We do ask for a £2 donation for car parking to assist in meeting our increasing centre costs. The bus garage will be open for external viewings along with the model and miniature railways, although the latter is subject to weather conditions as we don’t want our visitors getting wet!”
Unfortunately Nottingham Heritage Railway still can’t offer its usual ‘Santa Special’ train rides this year. However, you’ll find a ‘Winter Wonderland’ instead, and Father Christmas waiting in his grotto at the end (pictured below behind his helper) with a present for all the kids. The event is running from 10am to 4pm each Saturday and Sunday between December 3rd & 18th.
You can get tickets from The Heritage Cafe – in person or by sending a text to Karen on 07450 285 202 and you’ll get a call back. These cost £9 for children and £4 for adults, including refreshments, and will help to raise much needed funds for this volunteer-run railway.
Next door – in the Meeting Room of the Visitor Centre at Rushcliffe Country Park – the Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park will have a festive fundraising stall on Wednesday 7th December between 10am and 3pm whilst their resident volunteer carpenter Roger Byrne is holding an ‘Animal Craftwork Sale’ of carved items he’s made using his bandsaw. Some of his creations can be seen below – with 20% of his sale proceeds on the day going to The Friends.
Getting closer to Christmas, Saturday December 17th is the date for this year’s ‘Cosy Traditional Christmas’ at the Framework Knitters’ Museum and Parker’s Yard from midday until 6pm. Entrance that day will be FREE, with attractions including roasted chestnuts, Victorian mince pie making, ‘Tombola of crafted dreams’, a Christmas choir and mini orchestra, Father Christmas himself and festive treats from The Split Screen Coffee Company.
Museum Operations Manager, Sarah Godfrey, says: “We have been listening to our community and have decided that the Santa Grotto won’t be a pre-booked ticketed event. Please just turn up to see Santa. In addition to this, we recognise that a £5 Santa admission isn’t within everyone’s reach so this year we will be asking our visitors to pay what they can afford. £5 per child is the suggested donation (covers costs) but if you are struggling please just pay what you can afford. If you can pay a little more your donation will help fund this event and give everyone the chance to see Santa. If you don’t want to miss out we advise visiting earlier in the day.”
The Rotary Club of Rushcliffe has announced the dates of its 2022 Santa Sleigh Rides. The club is collecting funds for its benevolent fund (registered charity no 1045750) for use in support of local, national (where funds can be used locally) and international charities, in particular Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and Ash Lea Special School in Cotgrave. Father Christmas will be touring Ruddington with them in the evenings of Tuesday 13th Dec and Wednesday 21st December. We will aim to let you know the routes in our Events Diary and social media, once known.
Returning to Ruddington’s other Churches, Methodist Church minister Revd Nichola Jones reveals: “We have our Christmas Stalls and Cakes on Saturday December 3rd from 10am to 12noon, a ‘Coffee Morning’ on Saturday December 10th from 10am until midday, then on Sunday December 11th at 4pm ‘Carols by Candlelight’. All are welcome and there’ll be mince pies and coffee in the hall.”
Ruddington Baptist Church has an even busier Christmas schedule including a kids’ festive film afternoon and the return of ‘Beer and Carols’ to the Frame Breakers pub. Their full list of events is below.
If RUDDINGTON.info gets details of any further festive village events we’ll aim to add them here and to our daily Events Calendar. Have a #RuddyGoodChristmas!
