Fundraising Christmas lights display opens at Sarum Avenue

The fundraising Christmas lights on Sarum Avenue have officially been switched on, featuring the UK’s largest illuminated Father Christmas sculpture.

This year’s lights were switched on on Sunday 30th November and will be on every night in the run-up to Christmas from 5pm to 9pm, with Father Christmas and his elves out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.

Residents have adorned their houses in lights, with some making festive displays to raise funds for the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity; last year the residents raised £16,000 and this year they are hoping to exceed their target with a ‘bigger and better’ display.

New this year is a large, illuminated Father Christmas sculpture, which is 5m high and 5m wide, taking up a footprint of nearly 40sqm and adorned with over 10,000 lights, as well as a set of six-foot homemade candy canes displayed on a resident’s driveway.

 

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The large-scale air ambulance helicopter is also on display on the green and Father Christmas will also be in his grotto on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is also a post box for children to post their letters or drawings to Father Christmas.

The Grinch will also be making an appearance on some days, and this will be announced via the group’s Facebook page.

Local businesses have also donated prizes for the raffle again this year, including one very special star prize.

One of the residents Stacey, said, “We’re really excited for this year’s display and want to raise even more than last year.”

Residents have urged people interested in visiting the display to walk where possible or park in local car parks such as King Street Car Park, as there is no parking on Sarum Avenue.