Christmas entertainment from Hungerford's extravaganza to the Festival of Light in Newbury, plus concerts, markets and Santa fun run

A round-up of Christmassy things to see and do across West Berkshire and North Hampshire this weekend.

Friday 10

• Christmas Extravaganza, Hungerford High Street, from 5pm. Christmas lights, parade, stalls, funfair and steam engines.

Saturday 11

• Christmas Market, Plough on the Green, Newbury, noon-4pm. Christmas carols from St Mary's Church, Greenham and a visit from Santa noon-1.30pm.
• Swan Thatcham, Christmas Market, noon. Visit Santa in his grotto, £5 per child.
• Cromwell Singers A Musicals Christmas, St John’s Church, Newbury, 3pm. Entrance is free but there will be a retiring collection, to be split between St John’s Church and the Parkinson’s Disease Association. Interval with refreshments.
• Free Santa’s Grotto at Parkway, Parkway Shopping, Newbury, 10.30am-4.30pm. Catch a glimpse of Santa in his Christmas grotto – he is free to meet, no need to book and will have a gift for children who’ve been good. You can find him inside a unit by the Next piazza on December 11 and 12 and then December 18- 23. All donations go to Naomi and JacksPlace Children’s Hospice.
• Family Christmas concert, Wantage Brass Band, The Beacon, Wantage, 2pm and 4pm (and Sunday). Featuring music from film and popular Christmas tunes for all the family. The highlight of the concert will be a performance of the soundtrack to the 1982 popular short film, The Snowman, along to a projection of the film itself on the big screen. Tickets £12 for adults, £8 for children and free for under 2s (on laps) from www.ticketsource. co.uk/wantage-snowman
• Nathan’s Christmas Cabaret, The Fieldgate Centre, Kingsclere, 2.45pm and 6pm. Songs and festive fun. www.ticketsource. co.uk/kingsclere-communityassociation
• Hungerford Craft and Gift Market, Hungerford Town Hall, 10am-4pm.

Sunday 12

• Christmas Market, Kingsclere Village Club, 10am-3pm. Enjoy a bit of Christmas shopping.
• Thatcham Youth Free Christmas Craft Morning, Moorside Community Centre, Thatcham, 10am-noon. Join Thatcham Youth for a morning of free Christmas-themed crafts. There is no need to book, simply turn up on the day.
• Santa Fun Run, Millenium Green, East Ilsley, 10am. 5km trail run and mini reindeer dash. £20 per adult, £5 per child , £40 family ticket. All entrants receive a Santa hat, medal plus hot chocolate and bacon roll at the finish line
• Wash Common Christmas Concert, St Georges Church, Andover Road, Newbury, 7pm. Free community Christmas Concert featuring local artists and choirs, including massed choirs of St George's and St John's.
• Festival of Light, Newbury, 5pm. Newbury residents and visitors of all ages are invited to light up the streets of Newbury as they walk the winter streets of the town together, candlelit lanterns in hand. Starting on Northbrook Street, the twinkling wonderland will travel through to the Market Place, where live music and a festive atmosphere will be waiting under the illuminated sky.

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Thursday 16

• Christmas car wash, The Base Café, Greenham Business Park, 10am-2pm. Raise money for Young People and Children First. £10 – outside only.

Friday 17

• Christmas singalong, Fieldgate Centre, Kingsclere, 7.30pm. With the Kingsclere Singers. Mulled wine and mince pies on offer – bar open. Spaces will be limited.
• St John’s Church community Christmas Tree Festival, Newbury, 10am-4pm. About 30 trees with lights will be decorated by uniformed organisations, schools, local shops etc. Runs to December 24. Free entry, but donations for Newbury Soup Kitchen.

Wednesday 22

• Burghclere Baroque presents Handel’s Messiah, Church of the Ascension, Burghclere, 7pm. Tickets £25, one under 18 free with each ticket paying adult. Tickets: email theresa@burghclerebaroque.com or call (01635) 276009. www.burghfieldbaroque.com

Thursday 23

• Meet the reindeer, Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, 11am-3pm. Come along and wish them good luck before they head off to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please note: the reindeer will be outdoors. Tickets: www.hampshireculture.org.uk/event/meet-reindeer-milestones

If you are organising a charity or community event and would like to be included in these free listings, please email details – type of event, time, venue, date and contact – to report@newburynews.co.uk