Gifts for all the family - Viva Lewes

LATE NIGHT SHOPPING
Late Night Shopping in Lewes is enormous fun, especially if the
weather goddess is in good humour. It’s a treat to be able to wander
about the car-free streets, bumping into friends, sipping mulled
wine, and enjoying the festive atmosphere. The streets may feel like
the South Bank at this year’s event, to be held Thursday December
4th, because the theme is ‘Perform’. Look out for stilt walkers strolling
past, as well as other street performances from the lively folk at
Firecracker Circus. There will be a selection of music, on a trailer I understand,
from the talented Starfish performers. Dance Republic will
be dancing, Priory School children will be singing carols and some
Sussex Downs students will be putting on a Commedia dell’Arte performance.
The evening kicks off at 5.30pm, with the High Street shut
to traffic from the Bottleneck to the end of Cliffe until 9pm. Money
raised will go to projects working with young people in the performing
arts. There will be no fireworks this year, but there is a Treasure Hunt.
You can collect entry forms from the Town Hall. If you get peckish,
lots of hot food is available, including a hog roast, cooked by Glyn
Thomas, as well as fish and chips, burgers and hot doughnuts. Those
whose Christmas is not complete without a ‘Ho ho ho!’ on the lap
of Santa can find him in his grotto from 5.30pm in Lewes House on
School Hill. Look out for Morris Dancers as you mooch around the
Lewes shops at your leisure, without fear of traffic wardens, who will
probably be shopping too. And good news for beleaguered shoppers
and shopkeepers - Cliffe High Street will be clear of roadworks until
the New Year, so you can head down to Harveys, Oxfam, Bags of
Books, May’s and all the splendid Cliffe shops without being deafened
by drills. Don’t forget all the interesting independent shops on Friars
Walk, Station Street and in the Needlemakers. County Hall car park
will be open. Emma Chaplin