Christmas Tree Festival

The Christmas Tree Festival is an annual fixture in Downton, where local residents and community groups decorate Christmas trees for display at St Laurence Church, turning the building into a festive showcase for the weekend.

The event doubles as a fundraiser, with proceeds typically going to family support charities in the area. It started around 2018 or 2019 and was already marking its sixth outing within a couple of years, making it a fairly quickly-established local tradition.

It’s a relaxed, family-friendly weekend: stalls selling gifts and crafts, a raffle, activities for children, and hot refreshments to go with the cold weather. Live music is a regular feature too, with performances from the Downton Band, the local community choir, and pupils from Trafalgar School.

For 2025 the festival runs across Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December at the church. Groups and individuals wanting to enter a decorated tree can do so ahead of time, usually via the village newsletter or parish council announcements — entry forms are available at the library, the Borough Café, or the church itself. Entry to the festival is free.