Yes, we know it's only June... but Christmas doesn't happen by magic!
Behind every festive light, every Christmas market stall, every performance and every magical moment at the Ongar Christmas Lights & Festival is months of planning, fundraising and community support.
That's why we're excited to announce that our Ongar Christmas Lights & Festival Crowdfunder is now live, and we're inviting the whole community to get involved.
Building on the Success of Previous Years
Over the past few years, Ongar's Christmas celebration has become one of the most anticipated events in the town's calendar.
Thousands of people have visited our High Street to enjoy the festive atmosphere, support local businesses, watch live entertainment, visit Santa and celebrate the start of the Christmas season together.
This year, we want to continue building on that success.
Our goal is simple:
To make Ongar's Christmas Lights & Festival bigger, brighter and better than ever.
But we can't do it alone.
Why We Need Your Help
The Christmas Lights & Festival is organised by a small team of volunteers who are passionate about creating something special for the community.
As costs continue to rise, fundraising has become more important than ever.
Funds raised help support:
🎄 Christmas lights and decorations
🎤 Live entertainment and performances
🎅 Family attractions and festive activities
🛡️ Event infrastructure and safety measures
📢 Marketing and promotion
✨ Creating a magical experience for residents and visitors alike
Could Your Business or Venue Host a Fundraising Event?
One of the biggest ways you can help is by organising your own fundraising event.
Because our volunteer team has limited time and resources, we're unable to organise multiple fundraising events ourselves throughout the year.
Instead, we're looking for local venues, pubs, cafés, restaurants, clubs, schools, businesses and community groups to host their own fundraising activities in support of the Christmas Lights & Festival.
Ideas could include:
🎤 Live music nights
🧠 Quiz nights
🍰 Coffee mornings
🎁 Raffles
🎄 Christmas jumper days
⚽ Sponsored challenges
🍷 Social evenings
🎟️ Ticketed events
Or something completely unique!
What's In It For You?
Hosting a fundraising event isn't just about supporting the community.
It can also bring real benefits to your organisation.
Increase Footfall
Fundraising events give people a reason to visit your venue, often introducing new customers who may never have visited before.
Raise Your Profile
Businesses supporting local causes are often remembered and recommended by the community.
Positive Publicity
We'll do our best to support participating fundraisers through our social media channels, website, community groups and email marketing.
That means additional exposure for your business and event.
Strengthen Community Connections
People love supporting businesses that support local initiatives.
Being involved helps build stronger relationships with customers and the wider community.
Create New Opportunities
Fundraising events often lead to new partnerships, collaborations and customer relationships that continue long after the event has finished.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
We're also looking for businesses interested in becoming official sponsors of the Ongar Christmas Lights & Festival.
From headline sponsorship opportunities to supporting specific elements of the event, we're happy to discuss packages that work for your business and budget.
Together We Can Keep the Magic Alive
The Christmas Lights & Festival has become a much-loved community tradition.
Every donation, fundraiser, sponsorship and volunteer contribution helps ensure we can continue creating magical memories for local families while supporting our High Street and local economy.
If you'd like to host a fundraising event, discuss sponsorship opportunities or simply support the Crowdfunder, we'd love to hear from you.
Together, let's make Ongar shine brighter than ever this Christmas.
🎄 Donate. Sponsor. Fundraise. Volunteer. 🎄
Author: Kelly Stone
Owner of Site