Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music is launching a new Christmas Lights On event in the town’s river side square, Whisstocks Place, as part of its Winter Light programme.

Like the Festival’s Fish Friendly Fireworks, the event on Sunday 10 December will feature music and light art projections on the iconic Tide Mill, plus art activities and artworks made by 250 local children.

There will also be make and do art stalls, mulled wine and cider, winter ales, hot drinks, German Sausages, pizza, wines and beers and snacks and more.

Projected art has been submitted by two local Woodbridge schools, Chelsea Arts Club and Woodbridge Arts Club; which is holding the last day of their 2023 exhibition on 10 December.

The Xmas Lights On event has been developed by Woodbridge Town Council, Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music, the Boathouse Bar and Kitchen, Choose Woodbridge and The Tide Mill Museum.

In the lead up to the Lights On event, Woodbridge Festival has launched a community website celebrating its 2023 art project, Anchors Aweigh! The website (http://www.anchorsaweigh.co.uk) documents the summer long exhibition, which celebrated Woodbridge’s maritime heritage and the 75th anniversary of the landing of HMS Windrush in East Anglia in 1948. Involving 12 anchors, decorated by 12 community groups, the artworks were displayed in 12 businesses and places of interest and attracted over a 1000 visitors.

DJ and festival founder Ben Osborne says: “The Lights On event is part of our on-going Christmas plans with the Town Council, The Boathouse and Choose Woodbridge and we’re delighted the Town Council and Arts Council are funding this first event. Over 500 people attended our last evening of light art and music in November, so we’re hoping to add another annual event to the regional cultural calendar.”