Herne Bay Christmas Lights
2024

Hey there, folks! We, the merry band of the Christmas Lights squad – now happily nestled within the Herne Bay Coastal Community Team – are all revved up to sprinkle a little extra twinkle across Herne Bay this coming Christmas! You see, these shimmering strings of joy do more than just dance merrily in the chilly night breeze. They knit us closer, warm our spirits, prettify our lovely Bay, and give us all a nifty excuse to do a bit of local shopping. A nugget of info for you – every quid chucked into the Christmas lights pot whirls over five quid back into our local coffers. Neat, eh? Now here’s the snag. We aren’t tied up with Canterbury City Council, hence not a penny comes from them. Last year, shaking the sponsor tree was a tough nut to crack, more so with the Council snipping away at event fundings. So now, it’s down to us – the steadfast voluntary troops, a handful of big-hearted businesses, sponsors, and of course, you wonderful Bay residents to fill up the kitty. We are all about pinching pennies where we can, but to keep the lights twinkling safely and merrily, we’ve got to rustle up at least £10,000 each year. This stash goes into: – Giving our existing lights a clean bill of health – Keeping them bright and cheery – Getting some fresh Christmas trees – Sorting the rigging up and down – Nailing down the needed permits – Covering our insurance dues – And of course, sorting the planning permission But wait, there’s more! We’ve got stars in our eyes and plans to trail the lights right down to the seafront and high street! Though we lean on the kind hearts of businesses and residents for sponsorships and donations, it’s the camaraderie and the love from every one of you that truly lights up Herne Bay. So let’s pool in and make the Bay sparkle brighter than ever!