Let the festivities begin!
29 November 2023
It’s that time of year again - Come and join the festive celebrations in Diss Market Place from 12noon until 6.30pm on Saturday 2nd December!
A variety of tasty treats will be available from midday with burgers, hotdogs, chips, thai food, coffee and plenty of sweet delights on offer in the Market Place. Serving your favourite festive tipple will be the Wonky Donkey bar – plenty to indulge in!
A first for this year – we have more stalls inside Diss’ new outlet No.8 Marketplace and in St Mary’s Church. Treat your loved ones to a unique Christmas gift, from handmade crafts, jewellery, soaps, wax melts, pottery, games and more!
For the kids, enjoy all the fun of the fair with Larry Gray at Mere’s Mouth and an afternoon of festive activities at The United Reformed Church (URC - opposite Aldi) from 1 – 5pm. URC will be hosting Father Christmas in his Grotto from 11am until 4.15pm, where, for the cost of £3.00 per child they will each receive a gift – don’t forget to book your slot at the URC with Santa from 10am. You can also take part in ‘Search for the Christmas Stable with the Shepherds’ and have a free cup of hot chocolate at Beth’s Inn and pick up a free bag of goodies to take home.
Music lovers, you’re in for a treat! From 12noon, Park Radio will be getting us into the Christmas spirit with all your festive favourite tunes and from 2.30pm, catch live performances from Voice Squad, Greasepaint Academy, Serena Grant, Joe and Jemma Aiken, Will Power and our headliners ‘PRTY’. Local comedian and performer, Ben Langley, will compere the event – a firm favourite with the crowd every year!
We’re looking forward to Bubblemania joining us with his fantastic bubble displays, Believe in Magic Parties’ Snow Princess and the panto cast of Cinderella – all will be spreading the festive cheer in the town centre throughout the afternoon, a perfect chance to grab a selfie!
Led by The Salvation Army, Santa, Dinsdale, The Mayor and guests will travel along Mere Street to Diss Market Place from 4.45pm ready for the switch-on at 5.15pm. Thank you to Bressingham Steam Museum for providing their festive fire engine to transport Santa on route!
Joining Ben Langley for the big switch-on will be, Santa, the cast of The Corn Hall’s panto ‘Cinderella’, the Mayor & Mayor’s cadets, Dinsdale and Parky Bear. We can’t wait to countdown to Christmas with you all!
All of the above could not be possible without our Sponsors – Beckford & Lewis Financial Planning Limited, Dipple and Conway, Falcon Publications, Larking Gowen, Reads Property, Hartismere Place Care UK, De Lucy House, Kingsley Healthcare, Fonemagic, Lexham Insurance, Pearce & Kemp Electrical Limited, Phoenix Events (East) Limited, Upp Broadband, Durrants, Travis Perkins Diss, Gillings of Diss and our volunteers who give their time tirelessly throughout the year planning this Big Event. Thank you so much for your support.
We hope you have a fantastic time and have a very Happy Christmas!
