ILKLEY is to have its first Christmas Tree Festival this coming November. The event will take place at St Margaret’s Church, Queens Road, Ilkley on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 November 2018.

Organiser and Ilkley resident, Jessica Jeffrey is combining her love of Christmas along with helping local community groups and charities. Ms Jeffrey said: “I’ve been involved with helping local groups and charities over the last several years and saw an opportunity to combine the desire to help with a genuine love of Christmas. Though there are other Christmas tree festivals in towns all over the UK, there isn’t one in Ilkley. I think the people of Ilkley are generous and Christmas is usually a focal point in the town calendar with lots of people coming from out of town, so hopefully we will get a good attendance across the two days. The festival also coincides with the Ilkley Christmas lights switch on, so we should also benefit from that.”

There will be a display of over 20 Christmas trees, each decorated by a local charity or community group. There will also be live music and refreshments. Voluntary donations can be made on the door with people being able to vote for their favourite Christmas tree.

Ms Jeffrey added: “We have had a great response from the local community. We’ve been grateful to receive some funding from the Awards and Projects Committee at Ilkley’s Town Council which has enabled us to secure trees from Booths Supermarket, and lights from Mortens Hardware who are also generously supporting the festival. St Margaret’s Church have very kindly allowed us to hold the event at their church during their busy run up to Christmas. We’ve also got some very talented local music groups helping to create a really Christmassy atmosphere - these include The Ilkley Singers, St Margaret’s Choir, Steph and her Sax, The Rock Choir, Rombald’s Recorder Orchestra and Christopher Rathbone’s Organ Music. These along with a small group of volunteer helpers (including help from Dan’s Den soft play and Community Action Ilkley) Have all helped to make this possible.”

The festival runs Friday, November 23 from 11am-3pm and 5pm-7pm (3pm-5pm low sensory time with no music. To pre-book a visit during low-sensory time email: ilkleychristmastreefestival@hotmail.co.uk). Saturday, November 2410am-6pm. Proceeds will be divided equally amongst the participating groups and charities.

Information and updates on the event can be found on Facebook (Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival) and at www.ilkleychristmastreefestival.co.uk.