It’s hard to believe that we are already heading towards the end of November and that Christmas is just around the corner! If you are like me, you will already be busy preparing. I love shopping in the district and finding unique gifts to buy family and friends. Supporting local businesses is really important to me and I’m sure it is to you too.

To support local businesses, we are introducing a number of parking offers. If you are attending the Chichester Christmas light switch on event on Saturday 23 November, we are offering free car parking in our Avenue de Chartres car park from 4pm. You can also park for free on Sundays in December 2024 in our Avenue de Chartres car park. We are also introducing a further offer which can be used in the majority of council-owned car parks across the district. When you select two hours using the MiPermit app during weekends in December 2024, you will receive the third for free. Find out more about the app at: www.chichester.gov.uk/mipermit

Prior to the light switch on event in Chichester, we have arranged for a pop-up food event between 10am and 6pm in East Street — which you will not want to miss! This will consist mainly of city food and drink suppliers. There will be lots on offer, from pulled pork and turkey rolls, through to mulled wine, crepes and even milkshake! So, you can make sure that you are well fed before the light switch on starts at 5pm outside the Assembly Rooms. Our Novium Museum will also be holding its Starlight Trail between 2pm and 4.30pm on the same day, where you can make a paper lantern and festive crafts. You can book at: www.thenovium.org/starlight.

Then on Sunday 24 November between 10am and 4pm, our popular Cross Market & More artisan market returns to the city centre, celebrating the very best creatives, designers, makers and producers from the district, along with entertainment, family activities and mouthwatering food from the local area. There will be lots of festive gifts and don’t be surprised if it even snows! On Saturday 30 November between 10am and 5pm, our Novium Museum will also be holding an Indoor Christmas Market: www.thenovium.org/christmasmarket.

Midhurst are holding their light switch on event on Friday 6 December, with their event running from 5pm until 8pm, including live music, fairground rides and late-night shopping. Petworth’s Christmas Cracker event takes place on Saturday 7 December from 11am until 7pm with a variety of stalls and musical entertainment throughout the day, and the light switch on taking place around 6pm. Selsey is holding a Community Christmas event in the High Street on Saturday 30 November from 2pm until 6pm, including a parade at 3pm. The East Beach Christmas Party at the Orchard Parade shops, will also take place on the same day between 2.30pm and 5pm.

We are also making Christmas magical in Chichester’s Priory Park, with a special programme of events to coincide with the city’s Christmas market, which is running from 7-15 December on East and North Street. It will also be operating later on Thursday 12 December, until 7pm. Families will be able to enjoy a specially commissioned pantomime in The Guildhall from 13-15 December. You can also get your dancing shoes on for two Silent Discos, taking place on Thursday 12 December. There will be a family-friendly disco at 6pm and then an over-18s event which will celebrate the 80s at 8.30pm. We are also dressing up The Guildhall with an eco-friendly Christmas tree and our Culture Spark partners are organising family arts and crafts activities and music performances across the nine days. You can find details of all of these events and book tickets at: https://chichesterboxoffice.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows

We have lots more festive events listed at www.chichester.gov.uk/whatson and on our social media pages.

Best Wishes

Cllr Harsha Desai

Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Communications and Events at Chichester District Council