What's on

On the second Thursday in December, Lostwithiel lights up with its Annual Dickensian Evening. The ever popular festive event has been running for 14 years. The streets are filled with crowds who come to enjoy the old fashioned traditional Christmas experience with a Victorian Theme.

The evening officially starts at 6pm with a lantern parade down Fore St led by the Town Band and local choirs, this will meander through the town arriving back at the Church for a final song. Following on from 6.30pm we'll have Choirs and bands all evening in the Church followed by a community sing a long concert from 8.30pm.

There will be further music, choirs and performances all over town throughout the evening keeping you entertained.

If you arrive early ( a very wise thing to do) the Church will be opening the evening and holding a service for everyone starting at 5PM , revisiting Dickens' A Christmas Carol - choir singing and a power point walk through an old but familiar story, with a few congregational carols thrown in for good measure. Followed by the Lostwithiel Bell Ringers at 5.45pm. Come and give your vocal chords a once over.

Shops in the town will be open late and shopkeepers dress up in Victorian garb, you'll also find Vintage, Antiques, Craft and gift stalls in the Church Rooms and Drill Hall.

For children there's an old fashioned merry-go-round fairground ride sited in Parade Square and a traditional Santa's grotto (with Santa in green robes rather than red!) is a must visit, look out for the secret entrance in Fore St.

There are plenty of refreshments available, with restaurants and cafes open all evening, lots of street food including a hog roast and hot chestnuts from the local YFC, wood fired Pizzas named especially for Dickensian evening, hot pots and festive sausages. Of course there's lashings of mulled wine or mulled cider available too.

While you're in town, you can take in the festive scenes in the annual Advent Window Trail and the illuminated Christmas trees above shops and houses.

The museum at the top of Fore St will also be open to the public.

Once the festivities finish up around 9pm ish, the evening continues with live music and entertainment in local pubs and clubs.

Why not join in the dressing up fun and kit yourself out Victorian style, we love to see people making the effort.

Get here early to avoid the rush or why not come by train and forget the car, not only do you not need to worry about parking but you can also partake happily of all the festive drinks on offer.