A Festive Triumph: Ongar Christmas Festival and Light Switch-On 2024

The much-anticipated Ongar Town Christmas Festival and Light Switch-On lit up the community spirit, proving to be a resounding success despite a rainy start. This year, the event took place on a Sunday and began in the mid-afternoon, transforming it into a full-fledged festival before the grand Light Switch-On in the evening.

By starting earlier, the event offered families and visitors even more time to enjoy the festive atmosphere, browse the stalls, and participate in the rides and visit Santa’s Grotto and real reindeers. The extended schedule ensured that the entire community could come together and celebrate in the lead-up to the magical moment when Ongar High Street was illuminated for the season.

THANK YOU EVERYONE! 

We were overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support we’ve received for this year’s Christmas Festival and Lights Switch-On event. Your generous sponsorships and donations truly brought the magic of Christmas to Ongar and made this community event a reality.

Thanks to your contributions, we were able to create a celebration that brought joy, connection, and festive cheer to everyone. From the dazzling lights to the wonderful activities, none of this would have been possible without your generosity.

To our sponsors, local businesses, and donors – thank you for believing in our vision and for helping Ongar sparkle this holiday season. Your kindness and support mean the world to us and to the entire community.

How Much Was Raised for the Ongar Christmas Event

We raised, in excess, of £25,000 which was essential in covering the costs of bringing the High Street to life with festive decorations, safety measures, barriers, security and more for an event of this scale.

Why Community Support Matters

What many may not realise is that putting on an event of this scale required substantial resources. From the installation of Christmas lights to securing stages, insurance, closure of car park bays, barriers, security, marshals etc the costs quickly add up. Every pound raised went directly into making this event a magical experience for everyone to enjoy.

While we achieved so much, we must rely heavily on continued support to sustain and grow this event in future years. It’s a chance for our community to come together, celebrate, and support local businesses.

A Celebration of Community

What made this event truly special was the spirit of togetherness that it fostered. This was not just a festive event – it was a celebration of community, culture, and connection. With the support of local businesses, schools (Ongar Primary, Dr Walkers, Ongar Academy, Chipping Ongar), Fire Station, Young Farmers, Churches, Ongar Town Council, local organisations such as Scouts, Zinc Arts, Senior Wellbeing Hub, and volunteers, the festival created a space where everyone could come together, share in the joy, and experience the magic of the season. Together, we created memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the Ongar Christmas Festival a highlight of the holiday season!

Catherine Honeywell & Kelly Stone