11th - 12th December 2009
Friday 11th December
The Candlelit Dartmouth committee have been working hard to ensure the weekend will be action-packed and full of fun, with more stalls than ever before, and plenty of live music and entertainment.
The market in Royal Avenue Gardens will run between 4pm and 9pm on the Friday with an amazing variety of stalls for those Christmas gifts . If you're peckish, there will also be plenty of delicious hot food to tempt you, including paella, hog roast, doughnuts, Thai and Indian food.
During the afternoon there will be live music at the Bandstand from Becky Brine - a jazz/blues artist described as "a white Devonshire lass whose voice is black, soulful gold". Crazy unicyclist One Wheel Sam will also be on hand to get the atmosphere going.
The Candlelit Dartmouth lantern procession is a beautiful and atmospheric sight around the old streets of the town, with children and families parading their lanterns and musicians and entertainers adding to the spectacle.
This year we will congregate in the Old Market from around 5.00 pm. The Blackawton Morris Men will be there to provide entertainment and refreshments will be available. At 5.30pm the procession will depart and, weather permitting, the Morris Men will join the Dartington Samba Band in leading the procession through town. This year's route will be Old Market - Market Street - Foss Street (from the Broadstone end) - Anzac Street - Smith Street - Raleigh Street - South Embankment (towards Lower Ferry) - Lower Street - Fairfax Plave - The Quay.
The procession ends at the Boatfloat where crowds will gather to welcome the arrival, by boat, of Father Christmas. See "Procession route" for more information.
Many shops will stay open until 8pm on Friday night, so why not pop in and choose your family and friends one or two delightful, individual presents that make Christmas shopping in Dartmouth so special.
Alternatively, why not finish the evening with a festive treat and book into one of the wonderful restaurants in town for a candlelit dinner.
The Park and Ride service will be operational between midday and 9.30pm.
Saturday 12th December
The fun weekend continues on Saturday, with two more markets.
The Royal Avenue Gardens market runs from 10am until 6pm, so wander over and have a look, stopping off en-route at the Flavel to admire the work of artists from Dartmouth Community College (see "Competitions").
The popular local Farmers’ market will have its usual plethora of fine locally-produced food in the Old Market between 9am and 2pm, and there will be other Christmas market stalls too.
There will be plenty of entertainment around town with music in the Bandstand plus street entertainers and a samba band parading through the streets.
The early morning entertainment on Saturday morning starts with a nativity play by Dartmouth Pre-School at 11am and this will be followed by live music in the style of Sinatra from Michael Campari. Then at 1pm, the Kingswear Choir will take to the Bandstand to lead a session of carols.
Dan Brazier also returns to demonstrate his amazing juggling skills and the Crooked Tempo Samba band will be parading through town with their awesome percussion !
Dartmouth Music Festival hosts the early afternoon entertainment and you can expect appearances from entrants of the 2009 Dartmouth's Got Talent competition.
Andy Carter of Dartmouth Photography who has come up with the idea of a Dartmouth Xmas Tache competition. Local boys with a sense of fun have been growing facial hair for a Tache off, at the Bandstand at 4pm - . unless the moustache grower can not bear to part with his new creation - it will be shaved off! Come and see if you can spot a Fu Manchu, a handlebar, a Dali, a toothbrush, a pencil or perhaps a walrus! See our "Competitions" page for entry details.
If that doesn’t put you in a happy Christmas mood, then we suggest you have a wander around the town and visit the shops, you will find buskers on street corners and plenty of Christmas jollity at every turn. Or linger by the Bandstand for the climax of our live performances from Black Friday - a fusion of Irish and Celtic tunes with high energy country punk rock, and a sprinkling of their own original songs.
If you fancy something a little less energetic, make your way to St Saviours Church for the Rotary Club Christmas Carol Service which starts at 5.30pm. The service includes a chance to hear some of your favourite carols, as well as the three best poems written by local schools as part of a Christmas poetry competition organised by Derek Eames.
Local restaurants will again be serving candlelit dinners to round off the evening.
The Park and Ride service will be operational between 8.30am and 7 pm and will be free of charge as will parking in the Mayors Avenue car park.
Candlelit Dartmouth is an initiative originally conceived by the Dartmouth Chamber of Trade and is promoted by Born Hectic Events.
Images courtesy of Dave Cawley, Sarah Duggan, Helen Lloyd & Steve Thomas.
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