Christmas Activities

Residents enjoyed complimentary mulled wine and mince pies, and we were joined by the main man himself, Santa Clause, who joined us for the switch-on events, delighting children with his presence and taking time to chat with the youngest members of the community.

Entertainment was led by our guest compare, Andrew, assisted by Martin, who kept the atmosphere lively and even asked Santa a few questions submitted by the audience.

At Holywell, New Hartley and Seaton Sluice we were treated to choirs from the village First Schools who sang some traditional Christmas Carols much to the delight of the Christmas crowds.

After the Christmas tree lights were switched on our new Vicar, Revd. David Atkinson, who looks after our villages and our churches, blessed the trees and entered the festive spirit wearing his Christmas jumper and joining in with the singing of the Christmas Carols.

The events were well-attended, with residents from across the Valley gathering to support the events. Smiles, laughter, and a sense of community were evident throughout, making the occasions a fantastic way to mark the start of the festive season.

Thank you to all the people who helped us with these events and thank you to everyone who came along and made these events such a success!

Christmas Lights Competition

Each year, our village comes alive with festive cheer as we host our much-loved Annual Christmas Lights Competition, in partnership with the village First Schools. This magical event invites children to unleash their creativity and design a beautiful Christmas light.

The excitement reaches its peak when the winning designs from each school are transformed into dazzling garland lights! These young designers enjoy the honour of switching on their very own creation during their village’s Christmas celebration. The joy doesn’t stop there—runners-up join in the fun by illuminating the village Christmas tree alongside the winners.

Since 2011, this tradition has lit up our lampposts and we now have 14 unique Christmas garlands in each village, each a testament to the creativity and spirit of our community’s children. In fact, some of those early winners may now have children of their own at the village First Schools.

Pictured below are the winners and runners-up, switching on the lights with their respective ward councillors:

Small Businesses Sparkle in Festive Shop Window Competition

This year’s Christmas Shop Window Competition saw an incredible turnout, with dozens of local shops vying for the title of the most festive and imaginative display.

The response was excellent, with participants from a diverse range of businesses—from cafes to beauty shops—embracing the challenge with enthusiasm.

The displays this year were nothing short of spectacular. From twinkling fairy lights, tinsel and Christmas presents to handcrafted displays, each window showcased the unique style and spirit of its business.

And the Winner Is…

The first prize went to ML Estates in Seaton Delaval, with their traditional nativity display featuring the baby Jesus in a crib surrounded by animals in a stable scene.  Their display wonderfully captures the tradition of Christmas.

Runner-up honours went to OnetoOne Accountants in Seaton Delaval, whose Retro display gave us memories of Christmases past and Jack and the Bean Stark café in New Hartley with their wonderful display of decorations adorning the outside of the café for all to see and enjoy.