My now regular look ahead to events happening next month that would probably be in my events guide, if only they weren’t happening outside the psychological barrier of the M25 motorway.
Not much happening next month – everyone seems busy with Christmas and avoiding the cold.
| Fakenham Christmas Tree Festival | 1st-8th Dec |
| From 10am – 8pm each day the Church is lit up by 90 Christmas Trees, each decorated for one of the 78 charities taking part. | Fakenham, Norfolk |
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| Dunster by Candlight | 2nd-3rd Dec |
| This annual weekend event when this preserved medieval village turns its back on the present and lights its streets with candles. | Dunster, Somerset |
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| Burning the Clocks | 21st Dec |
| People gather to make paper and willow lanterns to carry through their city and burn on the beach as a token for the end of the year. | Brighton, East Sussex |
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| River of Light Parade | 22nd Dec |
| Hundreds of lanterns cascade through Caerphilly town centre accompanied by thunderous samba drumming, dancing, costumed performers, giant sculptures and lots more. Climaxes with a fire show and fireworks display against the backdrop of Caerphilly Castle. | Caerphilly, Wales |
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| Tolling the Devil’s Knell | 24th Dec |
| Every Christmas Eve the bell of Dewsbury parish church is tolled once for each year of the Christian era, to remind the devil of his defeat. | Dewsbury, West Yorkshire |
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| The Ba | 25th Dec |
| Traditional street rugby, played by the Uppies and Doonies with a much prized locally made leather Ba’ (ball). The Ba’ is thrown up outside St.Magnus Cathedral and the game ranges through the town. | Kirkwall, Orkney Islands |
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| Kenilworth Duck Race | 26th Dec |
| Around 1,500 yellow plastic ducks are released into the local river and raced down to the finish line. | Kenilworth, Warwickshire |
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| Windlesham Pram Race | 26th Dec |
| The annual Windlesham Boxing Day Pram Race is a local institution. Since the first race in 1968 the event has grown from six prams and a dozen runners to a hundred teams and over 800 participants. | Windlesham, Surrey |
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| Pagham Pram Race | 26th Dec |
| 60 year old tradition – started by demobbed servicemen who decided they would race. One pushing the pram and another as a baby in it, making sure to drink a pint each, at all the village pubs. | Pagham, West Sussex |
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| Marshfield Mummers | 26th Dec |
| Seven figures, led by the Town Crier with his handbell, dressed in costumes made from strips of newsprint and coloured paper, perform their play several times along the high street. | Marshfield, Gloucestershire |
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| The City of Gloucester Mummers | 26th Dec |
| A recreation of medieval mummers plays that started again in 1969. | Gloucester, Gloucestershire |
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| Boxing Day Football | 26th Dec |
| The Fishermen & Firemens Boxing day football match is Scarborough’s oldest surviving custom – according to written evidence. | Scarborough, Yorkshire |
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| Grantchester Barrel Race | 26th Dec |
| Annual barrel rolling contest through the town centre. | Grantchester, Cambridgeshire |
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| Burravoe Tar Barrel | 28th Dec |
| Locals drag a flaming barrel through the town to mark the end of the year. | Burravoe, Shetland |
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| Stonehaven Fireballs Festival | 31st Dec |
| A procession through the town centre by local men swinging large fireballs around their heads. | Stonehaven |
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| Allendale Baal Fireballs | 31st Dec |
| A selected hereditary team of 45 barrel carriers known as Guisers dressed in fancy dress carry flaming whiskey barrels through the streets to the town centre where they are used to ignite a ceremonial bonfire | Allendale, Northumberland |
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| Comrie Flambeaux Procession | 31st Dec |
| At midnight, eight flambeaux or fiery torches begin their procession around the village before being ceremoniously thrown in the River Earn. | Comrie, Perthshire |
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