After many meetings and a lot of behind-the-scenes organising, the Hamlet Court Calling group, alongside our fantastic local businesses, were proud to bring Festive Friday to Hamlet Court Road once again.

The Christmas tree, kindly donated by the council, took pride of place, brought to life by the time, energy and goodwill of Hamlet Court Calling. Local businesses lit up the road, windows glowing and looking properly festive, creating a lovely atmosphere from the moment people arrived.

Children were able to visit Santa’s grotto and have a chat with Santa himself, while the Elf on the Shelf was spotted wandering around with Mr and Mrs Claus, spreading smiles and Christmas cheer. Although there was a small hiccup with the snow machine, it certainly didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, the festive mood carried on regardless.

We were also delighted to see The Haven Community Hub running their Santa Paws event alongside Festive Friday a great collaboration and a real bonus for families on the night, with a fabulous choir singing classic Christmas songs.

SAVS Community Builder, Chiquitta Bruce said: “It was genuinely heart-warming to see so many people out supporting their local shops and getting involved in their community. This was the second Festive Friday, and we’re already hopeful that next year will be even bigger and better with a larger tree, more activities, and even more people taking part.”

“Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen. This event showed exactly what can be achieved when a community comes together.”

Photo credit: Essex Influencers and Ben Buckley