GREAT Malvern will soon come alive when the town celebrates the 125th birthday of C.S. Lewis and the return of the annual Christmas Festival.
To commemorate this milestone birthday (November 29) of the much-loved author and his connections to The Malverns, elements of the festival will be themed around The Chronicles of Narnia alongside the usual activities.
This includes Santa’s Grotto, Christmas Markets, festive entertainment, and Malvern Theatres’ pantomime stars turning on the Christmas Lights.
Held on 25 November, there will be a variety of activities on offer at the Christmas festival:
- Lantern parade
- Animatronic polar bear (as seen in the films)
- Face painting at the Mount Pleasant Hotel
- C.S. Lewis Literary Walk (11am guided tour by lecturer Dan Johnson)
- Storytelling
- Live music
- Arts and Crafts marketsFrom 24 to 30 November, visitors will be able to take part in the Great Malvern Gas Lamp Trail where they can see the many lamps that have been restored to their former glory.
Malvern Hills District Council is also joining forces with Creatives Connect, a local artist group, to deliver an innovative arts project to mark the event.
Participating shops and businesses will receive a stencil of a gas lamp, to be displayed in their window from 24 November, creating a display of decorated windows.
C.S. Lewis attended Malvern College on a scholarship in the early 1900s. His time at the college may have been what planted the seed for one of the most iconic scenes in The Chronicles of Narnia.
It is said that Lewis had commented on Malvern’s collection of gas lamps, and it is possible they provided inspiration for the famous light that signalled the point past which magic could be found.
Coun Beverley Nielsen, Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Economic Development at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “I cannot wait to see the wonder and magic of Narnia come to life in Great Malvern.
“We are so lucky to have such a rich history and connections to so many much-loved literary figures.
“The Christmas Festival is a perfect way to celebrate what would have been C.S. Lewis’s 125th birthday and it will be a great opportunity for residents and visitors alike to enjoy a whole host of festive activities.”
Great Malvern Christmas Festival is organised in partnership with Malvern Town Council and Malvern Hills District Council.
Visit www.visitthemalverns.org/christmasfestival for the full programme of events.
