Monday 12 November 2012

Largest ever Christmas Events calendar launched for the West End!


Today sees the launch of the brochure promoting this year’s Dundee West End Christmas Fortnight, with the Fortnight’s events starting next Saturday 17th November.     This year sees the largest-ever series of activities and events across the West End and it’s the first time that the “Christmas Week” as it has been known for the past twelve years, is expanding to become West End Christmas Fortnight.

The West End Christmas Committee is really grateful to all local residents, organisations and businesses who have made this programme of events possible and we hope the whole community will take part.

The Fortnight will be launched with West End Community Fayre, taking place in Dundee West Church from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday 17th November and some 25 local groups in the West End are taking part.   Entrance is entirely free of charge and it will be a great way for local residents to learn about all the organisations in the West End that are working for the local area.    There will be lots to see, including free face painting for the children and, at 11am, children from the dancing studio of the Russian School at Harris Academy will be performing.

This year’s West End Christmas Concert takes place at Dundee West Church at 6.15pm on Wednesday 21st November.   There will be musical contributions from the four local primary schools and Harris Academy.    Dundee Rep’s women’s singing group Loadsaweeminsingin will also perform and Mains of Fintry Pipe Band will pipe everyone from the church to Sebraes for the Christmas Lights Switch-On.

At 7pm, the West End Christmas Lights will be switched on at Seabraes by Mother Goose from the Downfield Musical Society Panto   Santa and his sleigh will also be there to meet the children and there will again be a spectacular fireworks display after the lights switch-on.    Horne’s carnivals will have carnival rides at the Duncan of Jordanstone car park – opposite Dundee West Church on Perth Road.

Other Christmas activities in the West End include: 
·     Monday 19th November 4pm – 5pm – Children’s Craft activity at Blackness Library – making handprint Christmas Trees – all children welcome!
Saturday 24th November :

·        Primary 5 football competition at Riverside at 10am – with thanks to Riverside Community Sports Club – teas and coffees available for spectators!  
·        Harris Academy Christmas Fayre 10am to 12 noon with crafts, Christmas items and lots more!
·        Pennycook Court Coffee Morning 10.30am onwards with home baking, gifts and raffle!  
·        Magdalen Artists – Christmas Exhibition of Art and Craft at the Vine (43 Magdalen Yard Road) 10.30am to 4pm (also same hours on Sunday 25th November) – all welcome!
·        Tuesday 27th November 4pm – 5pm – Children’s Craft activity at Blackness Library – making a snowman – all children welcome!
·        Wednesday 28th November – Evening Community Tour of the new facilities at the West End Campus Schools (the new Logie Site for St Joseph’s and Victoria Park Primary Schools and Balgay Hill Nursery School) – if you wish to take part and see the new schools, please contact me at the City Council on 434985.
·        Friday 30th November – Community Coffee Morning at Blackness Library 10am to 12 noon – all welcome!
·        Friday 30th November – 4.30pm – West Port Christmas Lights Switch On.
Saturday 1st December :
·        Blackness Primary School Christmas Fayre – 10am to 12 noon – with a large variety of stalls!
·        Friends of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden Gardeners’ Question Time at 2.30pm at St Peter’s Free Church Hall, with John Stoa and other gardening experts!   Entrance is £3 at the door.
·        St Peter’s Free Church Christmas Fayre – 10am to 4pm – home baking, Christmas Gifts and Crafts and more!   Santa’s Grotto 2pm-4pm.

We are launching the Christmas Fortnight Brochure today as it gives residents all the details about the activities taking place during the Fortnight.   You can download the brochure here.   It has been great to see so many members of the community taking part over the past 12 years and with the largest ever series of events this year, we are all looking forward to West End Christmas Fortnight.