Win £250 hamper at town's first Victorian Christmas Fair
THE spirit of Christmas past will fill the streets of Stratford when the town hosts its very first Victorian Christmas Market from tomorrow, Friday.
The Herald has teamed up with organisers Stratford District Council, Stratford Town Council and LSD Promotions, to offer three lucky winners great prizes, including a £250 food and drink hamper full of goodies off the stalls.
A warm welcome awaits locals and visitors when Queen Victoria — a.k.a Mayor Victoria Alcock, and Prince Albert — a.k.a Councillor George Atkinson, chairman of the district council, will officially open the Victorian Christmas Market at 11am on the stage at the top of Wood Street.
More than 150 stalls will be selling an array of goods including local arts and crafts, international products, festive gifts and tempting international street food plus plenty of festive spirit including local gins, mulled wine and other Christmas cheer.
Traders dressed in Victorian attire will be showcasing and selling their wares to customers looking for unusual and unique Christmas gifts. A schedule of live entertainment, which focuses mainly around the live stage in Rother Street, includes professional and local amateur entertainers featuring bands, musicians, singers, choirs, Victorian street entertainers and the Dancing Grannies!
There’s also a vintage fun fair with carousel, helter-skelter, swing boats, Ferris wheel and traditional rides. The event, jointly organised by Stratford District Council, Stratford Town Council and LSD Promotions, is also sponsored by the Herald and Stratforward.
The event runs at the following times: Friday, 8th December from 10am to 9pm; Saturday, 9th December from 10am to 9pm, Sunday, 10th December from 10am to 5pm.
To celebrate the first Victorian market, the Herald has teamed up with LSD Promotions to offer eagle-eyed visitors the chance to win three fabulous prizes, all sourced from the market traders. First prize – worth £250 – will be a hamper brimming with luxurious locally sourced items consisting of: flavoured Vodka; Irish Cream Liqueur; German teacakes; Bluebell Cottage fudge; fine wines; a selection of locally brewed beers and ciders, handmade chocolates; Christmas pudding; cheese; hot chocolate gift pack; home-made jams and chutneys; fair-trade coffee beans; teas; cakes; pies; chocolate brownies; samosas; gin; biscuits and fudge!
The second prize will be a Surname History Scroll from Hall of Names. (Visit www.hallofnames.org.uk for further information).
The third prize will be a selection of homemade fudge treats. To enter just keep your eyes out for two very special visitors to the market – Ollie and Ivy, the Victorian teddies.
Complete the coupon in this week's Herald naming the stalls you saw one of the teddies on and on which day, along with your contact details, and drop it into the LSD trailer office which will be based outside Laura Ashley on Bridge Street.
The three winners will be drawn around 4pm on the stage in Rother Street but winners who are not there will be notified. A coupon from the Herald must be used to enter and photocopies are not permitted. One coupon per entry. Entrants must be willing to take part in publicity in the Herald and its associated website and social media accounts.
