Some Christmas
Some Christmas

Be warned. We’ve fired up the 2013 plagiarise-o-meter machine, topped up the tank with highest grade liquid rip-off and set the controls for the heart of Twickenham. That’s right, it’s heading for the beating heart of our town and it’s set to explode in a ball of festive fury, tinsel and overcooked sprouts on Christmas Day itself! Here’s some stuff to keep you occupied in the meantime. Whether it’s Christmas lights, festive fairs, a pantomime or rugby at Twickenham Stadium that you want, we’ve got it all below. Or at least some of it…


OK, we’re going make this real easy for you. You want categories? You got categories. Just click n go.
Christmas lights
Other Christmas events (err, like the ice rink)
Panto & Theatre
Music & Comedy
Other Useful Links

CHRISTMAS TURN-ONS
Want to see the place you love light up, like Terry’s All Gold? Here’s how…

Twickenham Town Centre – Friday 22nd November
Expect big crowds in Church Street for Twickenham’s Christmas lights. Events kick off in the afternoon. There’ll be craft stalls, Punch & Judy shows, a band from the Royal Military School of Music. Mayor Meena Bond and the vicar from St Mary the Virgin, Rev Jeff Hopkin-Williams will be pushing the illuminations plunger at 6.30pm. Expect plenty of mulled wine, mince pies, festive music and a whole lot of milling. Worth a visit.
More info: TTBA

Twickenham Green – Saturday 14th December
Rumours of another Chrimble do on Twickenham Green on 1st December turned about to be false. Last year’s inaugural event all got a bit wet and muddy, the snow machine was vetoed by greater powers (apparently) and the official light turner-oner Rob Brydon got rather hidden by crowds of (mostly taller) people. For whatever reason, it just didn’t happen again in 2013. However there will be a small local event on Saturday 14th December at 5.00pm on Twickenham Green. More details pending but we’re reckoning on some carols, mince pies and a glass or two of mulled wine.


OTHER, LESSER PLACES…

Whitton – Sunday 24th November
Whitton gets the Christmas lights treatment on Sunday 24th. The High Street will be closed from 11.00 to 4.00pm and there’ll be lots of entertainment including the Kneller Hall Military Band. Dusty the Dog – we’re assuming he’s a dog character rather than a long-time associate of the Krays – will be switching the lights on at 3.45pm. More info.

Teddington – Thursday 28th November
Tedders does its thing in the High Street & Broad Street with late night shopping, between 4.00pm & 9.00pm, carol singing at Elmsfield House (5.30pm) and, wait for it,  two Bond girls will be in attendance. By that we mean Mayor Meena Bond and Samantha Bond (off of the telly and James Bond films) will be doing the lights at 6.00pm. The poster.

East Twickenham – Friday 29th November
East Twickenham will flicking its switch with support from Meena Bond (that’s one busy Mayor!) and Mr Steve Hackett of Genesis and doing his own solo stuff fame. It’s all happening just by Richmond Bridge at 5.00pm with carol singing, mulled wine and a mince pie or three. More.

Hampton Hill – Friday 29th November
Also on the 29th if you want to head out of Twickenham the other way then there’s Hampton Hill related fun to keep you entertained. Events from 4.00pm with a parade at 6.00pm. Hog roast, BBQ, craft stalls, you name it. More.

Richmond Christmas Lights and Frost Fayre – Sat 30th November
Heyyyyy! The Fonz will be in town! Saturday 30th is going to be a full-on festive affair over the water in Surrey. There’s a Frost Fayre, petting zoo, carol singing, normal singing, carriage rides, Henry ‘Happy Days’ Winkler signing books (he also happens to be in panto in Richmond). Twickenham’s Shelle Luscombe and the Richmond Rock Choir will be providing some of the vocals. More.

Hampton – Sunday 1st December
Santa will be touring the village before doing the biz with the lights at 4.30pm. That’s if Mayor Meena Bond doesn’t get there first! Believe.

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OTHER CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Christmas Shopping at Orleans House Gallery – Friday 6th December.
Runs from 2.00pm to 7.00pm. Shop for gifts, books, cards and festive foods whilst knocking back a mulled wine to ease the pressure. It’s being billed as a luxury fair so expect, nay, demand, quality. Info.

Twickenham Library Craft Fair & Children’s Storytime – Sat 7th Dec
Hand made gifts, crafts and cards plus stories and a visit from Father Christmas. Twickenham Library. 11.00-2.30. More.

St Margarets Christmas Fair – Sunday 8th December
The Christmas Fair takes place on Crown Road between 11.00am & 4.00pm with lots of festive food, drinks, stalls, games, entertainment and an open-air carol service. More info.

Eel Pie Island Artists Open Studios – Sat 7th & Sun 8th December.
Open from 11.00am to  6.00pm. There’s always a good atmosphere on the Island for their pre-Christmas open studios. It’s a chance to do a bit of Christmas shopping, stop for a glass of mulled wine and see some of the great creativity in the town. Recommended. Info.

Diamond Jubilee Gardens Christmas Family Fun Day – Sunday 8th December
More info pending from the Twickenham Alive crew but they are planning a family fun day on the 8th. 12.00pm to 5.30pm. Expect stalls, children’s workshops & live music. Check Twickenham Alive.

Ice Skating, Twickenham – 30th November to 12th January.
The “Richmond Rink” sets up in Twickenham for six weeks. This temporary rink will be located on the tennis courts at York House and there’ll be mulled wine, festive food and even pony rides (though not on the ice, we assume). 10 points for each Councillor spotted gracing the rink. And for a certain Riverside Councillor it might even be worth coming back from Cornwall for. Richmond Rink.

French Market on Church Street – 6th to 8th December.
A big selection of cheeses, cider, wines, bread and assorted other French type things – like those giant blocks of bright pink nougat. Seriously, does anyone eat that stuff?

Christmas Activities at Orleans House Gallery – 30th November, 8th & 21st December.
The gallery is running three family focused workshops: one producing advent calendars, one on creating wonderful wrapping paper and there’s a special session where Santa will put in an appearance. More.

Strawberry Hill House at Christmas
The House is now closed for the winter but, BUT, it does have a series of special events between 7th and 11th December. There are self-guided tours, children’s workshops, an arhcitectural lecture supper and an evening of baroque music. SHH events info

Christmas at Kew Gardens – 28th November to 4th January. 
Not Twickenham but… Kew Gardens have an illuminated trail through a ‘winter landscape’. Dare we say that it sounds quite magical and could be worth a visit. And there’s a ‘Christmas village’ too. Cameras (and wallets) at the ready! More.

Premiership Rugby: Big Game 6 – Sat 28th December. 
KO 4.00pm. The return of the Big Game to Twickenham Stadium and this year Quins take on visitors from the west country as Exeter Chiefs come to town. It’s an entertaining, family focused afternoon. Oh and there’s an important rugby match too. Info.

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PANTO & THEATRE

Richmond Shakespeare Society, Twickenham – The Twickenham based theatre group will be putting on The Importance of Being Earnest from 7th to 14th December. Not necessarily the most festive of plays but who cares. Everybody join in now…. “I’m dreaming of a Wilde Christmas…”
* Richmond Shakespeare Society Info.

The Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond – Director Geoffrey Beevers has adapted George Eliot’s novel Middlemarch into three separate plays which can be each be watched as a standalone production.
* Orange Tree Info.

Richmond Theatre – Panto hasn’t jumped the shark. It can’t have if The Fonz aka Henry Winkler is in town. Henry is starring as Captain Hook in Peter Pan. From 6th Dec to 12th Jan.
* Richmond Theatre Info.

Rose Theatre, Kingston – The Rose often has a slightly alternative take on the festive traditions and this year is no exception. The Snow Gorilla is the Christmas production at the Rose and promises jugglers, flamenco dancers, acrobats and more.
* Rose Theatre

Hampton Hill Playhouse – Teddington Theatre Club will be putting on their interpretation of Snow White at the Playhouse from 7th to 14th December. Songs, dance and daftness are promised.
* Hampton Hill Playhouse

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MUSIC & COMEDY

Too many other bits & pieces to list specifics but here are a few different, regular nights going on where you might find something you like:
* Bearcat Comedy Club – top comedy line ups week in week out. And look out for its special New Year’s Eve show. – www.bearcatcomedy.co.uk

* TwickFolk – traditional & contemporary folk on Sundays at The Cabbage Patch – www.twickfolk.co.uk

* The Eel Pie Club – rhythm & blues – www.eelpieclub.com And one to look out for is Thursday 5th December where competition winning local band The Carnabys will be performing.

* Twickenham Jazz Club – Based at The Bloomsbury pub on Staines Road and offering a range of jazz and big band music – www.twickenhamjazzclub.co.uk

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AND FINALLY…

Couldn’t find anything relevant? Get away with you! If you insist you can always search online yourself. And don’t forget to check for Christmas activities at the likes of Ham House and Hampton Court which often have Christmas events going on.

Or try one of these websites instead.
Official site:
* Visit Richmond

Other useful sites:
* Twickenham Town Business Association
* Twickenham Alive
* The Best of Richmond
* Totally Richmond
* Arts Richmond (for arts stuff around the borough)
* For Sanity’s Sake (locally based award-winning site for things to do with young children)
* Twickermum (site for Twickenham mums with kids but does quite a bit more. The clue’s in the name)

Check back soon for new additions. Feel free to add other events as comments below. If we like them we’ll even add them to the main text. Yes really.

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