Breeze into Poole this Winter

POOLE Town Centre Management is busy planning this year's festive celebrations, sponsored by Breeze Volkswagen and Wave 105.2 FM. With Christmas only weeks away preparations are in hand to transform Poole Town Centre into a Winter Wonderland with new Christmas lighting and a 220 square metre ice rink in Falkland Square.

Santa Claus will arrive in Poole on Sunday 16 November for the annual parade that will deliver the merry man to his Dolphin Shopping Centre grotto until Christmas Eve. But for the first time since the parade began, Santa will travel down the traditional High Street route in his sleigh pulled by four of his reindeers. Leading the parade will be our very own Miss Christmas and the Christmas children.

The fun will start at 10.30am when Santa will arrive on Poole Quay courtesy of the RNLI Lifeboat before mounting his sleigh and preparing his reindeer for the journey to the Dolphin Shopping Centre magical house grotto. All manner of street entertainers, costumed performers, marching bands and singers will accompany Santa, including the Wessex Majorettes, Dolphin Marching Band and the Dorset Youth Marching Band to name a few.

Festive spirit will fill the air with Christmas carols and popular songs for all to join in, led by children from local schools who will also be taking part in the parade. Julia’s House will be the dedicated charity fundraising along the route and in the Dolphin Shopping Centre, raising much-needed funds for the Dorset children’s hospice.

Following Santa’s arrival, the Dolphin Shopping Centre grotto will be open 10am until 5pm Monday to Saturday and 11am until 4pm on Sundays. To celebrate the centre’s late night shopping events, the grotto will be open until 8pm on Thursdays while Santa will be available from 10am until 3pm on Christmas Eve. Please note there may be queuing at busy times.

On the evening of Friday December 5th from 5pm, the spectacular Christmas on the Quay event will take place on Poole Quay courtesy of Poole Tourism and Jenkins Marine, a flotilla of boats will parade around the harbour all lit up for Christmas. Santa will also make a return visit to the Quay, arriving on the land train. There will be fantastic festive activities for all to enjoy, including, Christmas songs under the Quay Christmas tree by the Luminous Choir under snow fall, family fun activity area with face painting, colouring in and lots of have-a-go activities, mulled wine, mince pies and roasted chestnuts, plus a special Christmas post box to send your letter to Santa. Do some Christmas shopping too - Poole Pottery will be offering a special 10% discount all evening.

Other events for your diary are the enchanting Children’s Lantern procession taking place on 11th December, at 6pm, follow the parade from Falkland Square down the High Street and join the children in singing Christmas carols and enjoy a festive glass of hot mulled wine and mince pies outside the Guildhall – Poole’s stunning newly refurbished Registry Office.

From 22nd November until 24th December the Poole Park Railway Festive Grotto will open and this year looks set to be better than ever, hop onto the special Christmas sleigh carriages, ride around the Ice Lake on the festive sleigh train, feed the real reindeer, visit the turkey enclosure on the way to Santa’s Grotto. Get into the Christmas spirit in the fantastic surroundings of Poole Park.

And for something different, visit Compton Acres and see their beautiful gardens in all their winter glory, with highlights including the illuminated Italian Gardens. Visit Santa’s Grotto on late night Wednesdays, browse for unique gifts, enjoy the carol singing and children’s festive activities and afterwards, why not enjoy a meal in Italian restaurant, Sorridi or the tearoom in the piazza. Call 01202 700778 or visit www.comptonacres.co.uk

For further details visit - www.pooletowncentre.com  or www.pooletourism.com