Ilkley’s Christmas Tree Festival, held at St. Margaret’s on Queen’s Road on 6 and 7 December, was a huge success. Almost 2,000 people visited the festival to enjoy the beautifully dressed Christmas trees, music and refreshments in this beautiful church.
Over 30 local charities, schools and community groups each dressed their own tree to create a stunning display of Christmas trees.
Visitors enjoyed spine-tingling performances by Outside the Box band, school choirs from Addingham Primary School, Westville House Moorfield and Ghyll Royd schools and the children of our Ukrainian friends in Ilkley. Performances by Steph and her Sax, Ilkley Singers, St Margaret’s Choirs and West Yorkshire Rock Choir helped to put everyone in a festive spirit.
There were tempting cakes and seasonal goodies donated by Booths, Co Op, and Tesco. Gorgeous home baked treats from St Margaret’s very talented volunteer bakers and on Saturday, Lishman’s Butcher’s supplied their very tasty sausage rolls.
Many children took home a traditional Ukrainian angel and decorated gingerbread biscuits for their own Christmas trees from the workshop run by our Ukrainian friends.
The tree generating the most votes this year was decorated by Ilkley and Surrounds Support for Ukrainian Evacuees. A very close second was All Saints' Primary School’s tree decorated with hand-crafted designs made by pupils. Each and every tree was stunning and a heart-warming reminder of the great work and commitment of so many groups to support Ilkley and surrounds local community. Well done and thank you to every organisation taking part.
A spokesperson for St Margaret’s said:
"We would like to say a huge thank you to all who visited the festival, our volunteers including students from Ilkley Grammar School, Ilkley’s wonderful community groups, our entertainers, and our local supermarkets and suppliers for their support. The amazing Christmas trees were supplied by Moss and Moor. You were all amazing."
Pam Ravenscroft of Martin House Children’s Hospice said:
“The church was a perfect setting for the Christmas Tree Festival: sparkling with lights – each tree was decorated with beautiful artworks proclaiming the message of its particular organisation. Families, children and visitors could examine the trees before finding seats to enjoy the local choirs' uplifting Christmas music. The Martin House Children’s Hospice tree encouraged children to make Christmas wishes on a heart, and to showcase the wonderful work of our local Children's Hospice”
Fr Alex Crawford, Vicar of St Margaret’s said:
“We were so pleased to put on the Christmas Tree Festival again this year. Community groups, choirs, musicians and volunteers all came together to create a stunning event. It was a real celebration of all that makes Ilkley such a lovely place to live. Proceeds from the festival will help to support the work of Martin House Children’s Hospice who care for children with life-limiting illnesses. All are welcome to join us at any of our Christmas services."
Details of St Margaret's Christmas services can be found on the website stmargaretsilkley.org, Facebook (St Margaret's Parish Church, Ilkley) and Instagram (@st_margarets_ilkley) or by calling 01943 607015.
St Margaret's are already thinking about new ideas to introduce next year. If you would like to be involved in any way, please do get in touch with Vickie at stmargaretschurchpa@gmail.com.