Frome Town Council’s annual Christmas celebration is a much-loved highlight of the town calendar, promising food, fun, music and festive cheer. This year’s event sees some important changes, designed to make it safer and more inclusive for everyone.
Mayor of Frome, Anita Collier, said:
“I’m so looking forward to being your ‘MC’ for this year’s Christmas event – especially after such a different and quiet switch-on as your Mayor during Covid! This year’s celebration will be full of the Christmas cheer you know and love, but it will look and feel a little different. Please take a moment to read the information below – and do share it far and wide so everyone’s in the know!”
Food, fun and music outside the library
From 3pm, enjoy a festive food court outside Frome Library, serving mulled cider, wine and apple juice, along with hot and cold treats from local traders. Come back after the parade to pick up something delicious on your way home: the food court runs until 7.30pm. There are also fairground rides, Christmas tunes, and performances from Frome Town Band (5pm to 5.45pm) and Frome Street Bandits (7pm to 7.30pm). Frome Carnival Committee will be selling light sticks at the food court – please support our carnival by buying only from them. Street traders in the Market Place are not part of the event and will be asked to move on.
Visit Santa in his grotto at the We Hear You office at North Parade – book via We Hear You website.
A new direction for the lantern parade
This year’s parade will start at North Parade car park (not St John’s Church) and process towards the Christmas tree, led by Jamma de Samba. Barriers will be in place along Market Place to the bridge, creating a clear path for the parade – no ropes this year.
Switching on the lights
Mayor Anita Collier will arrive at The George ahead of the lantern parade at 6pm, welcomed by the town crier, and will lead the ceremony from the balcony, welcoming singer Andrew Carpenter and performers from Tri.Art. After the parade and samba party, Mayor Anita will lead the crowd in a countdown to the switching on of Frome’s Christmas lights.
Travel and parking
Please walk, wheel or cycle into town if you can. Roads will close from 4pm to 9pm.
- Merchant’s Barton (68), Vicarage Street (17) and Badcox (22) car parks will remain open. Merchant’s Barton is recommended for those with additional access needs, and a step-free viewing area near the Christmas tree will be reserved for those who need it.
- Cork Street and North Parade car parks will close from 4.30pm, and Cattle Market from 5.30pm. The filter lane from Cattle Market to Welshmill Road will stay open throughout.
- Please note that Wallbridge remains closed at the time of the event.
Road closures and diversion information
Road closures operate from 4pm to 9pm on 21 November.
From the north, please follow the diversion via Rodden Road only. After Rodden Road you will be guided onto the A362 southbound, until you re‑join your destination beyond the town centre. From the south, traffic should continue on the A362 northbound and then turn onto Rodden Road to bypass the closed town centre zone. Do not use Portway/Christchurch Street, as that route is closed to through traffic during the event.
Buses
Road closures affect all bus services in the town centre between 4pm and 9pm. The D2 and D2X will start and end at the Vine Tree pub, towards Bath and Sainsbury’s. The X34 Faresaver bus will divert via Fromefield. Other local buses on 21 November will terminate/divert outside the town centre between 4pm and 9pm. There will be notices in relevant bus stops.
Bucket collection
As ever, donations from the night will support the Frome Christmas Get Together – please give generously to the official bucket collectors.
View the road closure notice at https://one.network/?tm=GB144937033. Find the most up-to-date information about the Christmas event at discoverfrome.co.uk.
