Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, switched on the Big Tree Christmas lights in Kinver at the weekend, marking the beginning of the festive season in Kinver.
The switch on marked the first appearance of the Kinver Rotary Club’s Christmas sleigh in the High Street, which will then make a tour of Kinver, Enville, Kingswinford, Wall Heath and Wollaston over a period of nine days.
Organisers are looking to exceed last year’s sum of £6,000 which was raised by the Rotary Club which was divided between local charities.
As well Father Christmas on the Rotary Sleigh there was range of specialist food stalls run by volunteers and local businesses, a hog roast and performances by local entertainment.
Jane Sadler, member of the Kinver Country Fayre Steering Group said: “We were so pleased that Gavin could come along last Friday to welcome everyone to our Big Tree switch on. He did a marvellous job of encouraging everyone to chant “We want Santa!” We would like to thank Gavin for his help in making the event such a success.”
Gavin said: “I was honoured to have been asked to come back to switch on the Christmas lights in Kinver this year. There was such an impressive turnout, with hundreds of people from Kinver and the wider community coming together to celebrate this local tradition.
“It was fantastic to see how many people come out to support the local businesses and volunteers running the event as well as helping the Rotary Club to surpass that impressive target that they raised last year, which goes straight back to help those in the community that need some extra support at this time of year. I’d like to thank members of the Rotary Club and the Kinver Country Fayre Steering Group who put so much time and effort in organising such an impressive event, starting the festive season in Kinver.”