Events & Entertainment, Ferndown | Posted on December 1st, 2025 | return to news

All lit up for Christmas in Ferndown

The Christmas lights switch on by Ferndown Mayor Lawrence Wilson took place in the town on Saturday, 29 November.

Despite the forecast of rain, the annual Christmas in Ferndown event celebrated the ceremonial switch-on of the Christmas tree lights in traditional fashion with the mayor doing the honours at 5pm.

The steady flow of visitors throughout the day found a variety of stalls with Christmassy gifts, children’s rides and activities. Food stalls kept tummies full, and performances by Charlotte Geary and Chris Marshall provided live entertainment in Penny’s Lodge Car Park.

Father Christmas in his grotto at the Barrington Centre was a hit with the children, Forest FM broadcast throughout the day, and mince pies with mulled wine, along with a gigantic Christmas hamper raffle, got the community into the seasonal spirit. Nearly 300 raffle tickets were sold, and the winners were: 1^st – Sue Warner, 2^nd – Anne Brown, 3^rd – Ian Pounds. Money raised from the raffle and sale of mulled wine and mince pies will go to Ferndown Community Support.

At the switch on, the Mayor said, “It’s great to see so many people out today,” and before pulling the lever, he thanked Ferndown and Parley Rotary “for putting on such a fantastic day” and all the volunteers, staff and stallholders and everyone who made the events possible.

Christmas in Ferndown was organised by Ferndown and Parley Rotary CIO, with help from Ferndown Town and Dorset councils who made the whole of Penny’s Lodge Car Park available for the event, which used to take place in Penny’s Walk. It was also supported by Stuart Fleetham from Xerocad and Ben Pulford from Pulford Publicity, two local business owners who have been involved with Christmas in Ferndown since its inception over 10 years ago.

Classy Bird Event’s organised the Christmas artisan food and craft market in the Barrington Centre with stalls galore. It proved popular and was packed with handmade Christmas gifts, unique crafts, homemade cakes and bakes, face painting and much more.