Supporters kick-started the festivities at our Christmas Festival and Santa Dash!

Hundreds of people flocked to St Catherine’s for our Christmas Festival weekend and enjoyed a host of festive fun, including the annual sponsored Santa Dash.

St Catherine’s Park was abuzz with attractions, including an ice rink, gift stalls, games, seasonal entertainment, a craft fair and tasty food and drink from The Mill Outside.

Father Christmas was also in residence in his grotto and attracted a steady stream of excited visitors throughout the course of the weekend.

Sunday’s event also featured the sponsored St Catherine’s Santa Dash, with around 250 fabulous Father Christmases taking part in the annual event this year, including the Mayor of Preston Coun Brian Rollo and his wife Trisha. There was also a Rudolph Rumble for the little ones around our grounds, dressed up in antlers and red noses.

Rachel Watkinson, festival organiser and head of trading, thanked everyone who had joined in the festivities.

“It was wonderful to welcome so many visitors and see everyone enjoying all that we had to offer over the course of the weekend,” she said.

“The support from our community has been fantastic – people have been incredibly generous and helped us raise vital funds at this important time of year.

“The sea of Santas which take over the hospice on the Sunday really adds to the festive atmosphere, and we’d like to say a big thank you to all of them and our little reindeers for their efforts raising vital funds.”

Our next Christmas event will be their annual carol service which takes place on Sunday December 10^th at St Saviour’s Church in Bamber Bridge at 2pm. Everyone is welcome.

See if you can spot yourself in our Christmas Festival and Santa Dash galleries below!

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