Our first-ever Virtual Christmas and Winter Fair has been hailed a success, allowing people to continue supporting the popular seasonal event from the comfort of their own homes.
The ongoing pandemic meant our usual ‘Christmas at the Manor’ festive event hosted every November by our Life President Barbara Doherty and the Special Events Committee was unable to go ahead, so organisers took the decision to move it online instead, running it over several weeks until the end of January.
Happily, the virtual fair was just as well supported, with 25 stallholders signing up to take part, helping to raise an estimated £500-600 once all the proceeds have been counted.
Barbara said: “When we knew our usual event wasn’t going to happen, one of our committee members suggested we take it online and we were so delighted that most of our regular stallholders still wanted to join us.
“It’s been really important for us to think outside the box with regard to our fundraising activities over the past year, and we are really pleased we did it. It has definitely been worthwhile, allowing us to show in these uncertain times that we are still here, we are still raising money and we still need your support, now more than ever.”
For the past 15 years, the Christmas fair has been held at the Manor of Groves Hotel in High Wych, offering guests the opportunity to get together with friends for a delicious two-course lunch and shopping experience.
The event is usually a sell-out, attracting more than 200 visitors, who come to pick up some early festive gifts from a variety of artisan stallholders and craftspeople selling bespoke and luxury goods ranging from Christmas hampers and greeting cards, to pottery and homewares, scented candles and diffusers, beauty products, clothing, shoes and accessories and food and drink.
It is very much hoped that the event will return to the Manor of Groves in 2021 on Wednesday 17th November, so please save the date.
