Ramsey

The Rotary Club’s Christmas Float will be out and about in the next few weeks bringing Christmas cheer to the town and surrounding villages – as well as supporting good causes. Santa’s float will start is tour in Bury on December 2 finishing on December 23 in Ramsey St Mary’s. On board will be a post box, so children can ensure their letters get straight to Santa – just make sure your name and address on your letter so that Santa can reply.

The full schedule is:

December 3: Ramsey: Brands Close, Bury Road, Biggin Land, The Malting, Malthouse Lane, Wheatfield Drive, Hopbine Court, Grenfell Way, Oasthouse Way, Drayhorse Road, Taveners Drive, Foundry Way and WaRoad Close.

December 4: Ramsey: Bury Road, Fairfields Drive, Signal Road, Whytfield Road, Mews Close, Station Road and Slade Close.

December 5: Ramsey: Park Road, Fellowes Drive, Olivers Close, Canberra Court, Serjeants Close, West Avenue, The Avenue, Cricketfield Lane, Blenheim Road.

December 6: Field Road, Star Lane, Lime Road, Princes Street, Westfield Road, Allen Road.

December 7: Ramsey town centre and Upwood.

December 9: Ramsey: Great Whyte, Little Whyte, Silver Street, Mill Lane, Tower Close, Turvers Lane, Millfields, Newtown Road.

December 10: Ramsey Heights.

December 11: Ramsey: Church Green, Abbots Close, Abbey Field, Oates Way Lawrence Rd, Hollow Lane.

December 12: Holme and Conington.

December 13: Ramsey Forty Foot.

December 14: Bury and Wistow.

December 16: Warboys: Jubilee Ave, Ramsey Road to HumbeRoadale Way, HumbeRoadale Way, Bottles Road, Flaxen Walk, Woodlands,

December 17: Warboys: Goldpits, Old Mill Ave, Station Road, Wilthorne Pasture Close, Orchard Close, Coronation Ave.

December 18: Warboys: Fenton Road, Bencroft Lane, Padgetts Close, Madecroft Mill Green, Forge Way, High Street.

December 19: Warboys: Pathfinder Way, Church Road, Popes Lane, Throckmorton, Beech Close, High St, Ramsey Road, Longlands Close.

December 21: Tesco Ramsey.

December 23: Ramsey St Mary’s.

St Ives

Santa is also preparing his sleigh for his annual rounds on the Christmas Carol Float with St Ives Rotary Club. His helpers will be with him collecting for charity. Expect to see him between 5.45pm and 8.15pm at the following locations:

December 2: Earith

December 4: St Ives East: Waveney Road, Constable Road.

December 5: Hilton.

December 6: Fenstanton.

December 7: Waitrose.

December 9: St Ives: South Westfield Road, Fairfields, Needingworth Road, Woodside Way.

December 10: Somersham: The Pastures, King Street, The Trundle.

December 11: Somersham: Hammond Way, Feoffees Road, Grange Road, Norwood Road, Springfields.

December 12: Needingworth.

December 13: St Ives North: Norfolk Road, Burleigh Road, The Mallards, Albermarle Road.

December 14: St Ives Town Centre: Budgens.

December 16: St Ives Mid: Eastfield School at 5.30pm then Burstellars, Chestnut Road.

December 18: St Ives West: Elm Drive, Shakespeare Road, Pettis Rd, Ansley Way, Green Leys, High Leys.

Hinchingbrooke

If you spot a jolly-looking fellow dressed in red amid the trees at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, don’t be alarmed. It will be one of the participants in the Santa Run.

Huntingdon parkrun (correct), which meets every week at the park, is urging people of all abilities to come along and take part in its run on the last Saturday before Christmas.

“The Santa Run is a great opportunity for people to come along and take part. We have runners from national standard to beginners, people with their dogs and mothers with babies in buggies,” said Suzie Hall, a nominee in the 2013 Hunts Post Sports Awards Unsung Hero category.

Suzie, a highways project officer, runs the group with the help of seven volunteers. Parkrun meets at the country park every Saturday, and regularly attracts 140 participants every week.

INFORMATION: If you would like to take part in the Santa Run just turn up on Saturday, December 21, at Hinchingbrooke park at 9am. The group meets outside the café. Fancy dress optional.

St Neots

A Christmas tree festival is being held at the United Reformed Church in St Neots on December 6-8.

More than 40 trees will be decorated by a number of community groups and displayed in the church.

There will also be raffle, tombola, refreshments, children’s lucky dip and Christmas craft fair.

INFORMATION: Entry is free but programmes are £1, with proceeds going to the church’s roof repair fund. 10am-4pm on December 6-7 and noon to 3pm on December 8.

Bury

Former MP Sir Brian Mawhinney will be switching on the village’s Christmas lights which organisers have promised are bigger and better this year.

The event, which will also include singing by children from Bury School, will take place at 5.30pm on Friday opposite Bury Stores.

St Ives

Santa will put his sleigh to one side and turn to the waterways for his arrival in the town.

The big man will be visiting on Saturday arriving by boat at the Quay at 11am where he will be greeted by the Mayor of St Ives, Councillor Nick Dibben. Father Christmas will be heading to his grotto at the Corn Exchange where all the good children can meet him, get a free gift and give him their Christmas lists. He will be visiting the town this weekend and the following two weekends.

His arrival will also spark the start of the a weekend of Christmas festivities in the town, including a Christmas gift fair in the Corn Exchange on the Saturday and Sunday.

Santa’s helpers who have organised the grotto – members of Festival Events St Ives (FESt) – have also arranged for a free outdoor concert in the town centre on Sunday, featuring Huntingdon Big Band. They will perform between 12noon and 2.30pm.

INFORMATION: Santa will be in the Corn Exchange between 12noon and 3pm this Saturday and Sunday and for the next two weekends. Children visit for free. The events are sponsored by St Ives Town Council, J&S Event Organisers, St Ives Corn Exchange and ProEdge Partners.

Eaton Socon

Father Christmas will jingle all the way to Eaton Socon Pre School on Saturday (November 30).

Arriving by horse and carriage, he will make his way to a specially decorated grotto where children can meet him and, if they have been good, receive a gift.

On the day, families can also enjoy traditional carols, games, a raffle, face painting, and much more.

There will also be stalls to browse selling a variety of items including children’s toys.

Mayor of St Neots Andrew Hansard will attend to officially open the Christmas fair.

Caroline Allanson, Eaton Socon Pre-School Manager, said: “We are hoping to raise some money to continue updating our IT equipment for the children and we want to replace the touch screen computer for children with additional needs.

“Our Christmas fair is usually choc-a-block and very well-attended.”

INFORMATION: Open 11am-2pm. All welcome. Free entry, although there will be small charges for some of the activities.