Community Activities
Pictured is Funeral Director Charlotte Hall serving mulled wine and mince pies to some of the volunteers and organisers of this years event.
Now in its fifth year, the 2023 Canford Heath Community Lights Switch-on event promised to be the biggest and best yet and we weren’t disappointed with over 700 people attending.
The annual community event was organised by ARCH (Association of Residents of Canford Heath) in collaboration with members of the Canford Heath Community Centre, The BH17 club, Hub on the Heath cafe and the Pilot Pub with support from many other local groups and residents.
It was once again a real community effort to entertain hundreds of local residents with a variety of entertainment to give a magical spectacle of community spirit and Christmas cheer !
It began, as usual, in the Neighbourhood Centre outside ASDA at 5pm, with the Poole Borough Brass band playing Christmas carols. There was free mulled wine and mince pies provided by Nicholas O’Hara Funeral Directors before everyone gathered together for a parade by torchlight along Adastral Road arriving in Adastral Square for 6pm.
The fun continued in the Square with stalls and entertainment including DJ Adrian Boyd, free face-painting, and free balloon modelling carol singing by the Magna students, crafts, a raffle and stalls. More fun could be found in the Community Centre with a free Santa’s Grotto (with quiet sessions for SEN children) as well as a variety of stalls and in addition the Library also was open for Children’s Christmas crafts and Christmas story telling.
The event culminated in the switching on of the Community Christmas tree lights at 7pm by the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Jo Clements.
This hugely popular event was the perfect way to herald in the Christmas season and bring together friends and family, with the wider community, to celebrate together.