One of the (many!) wonderful things about Ludlow is the collaboration that occurs amongst the businesses and organisations - from eateries sourcing their products from the local butchers, bakers and deli's to fabulous fashion shows and more. The Winter Festival is the very latest collaboration to hit the town and we at Ludlow Chamber are proud to be a part of it.

The Winter Festival will kick-off the Christmas countdown here in Ludlow; with a fabulous tractor run from the Orleton Young Farmers starting proceedings on the Friday night and a comedy night co-ordinated by the Fringe in the Brewery on the Sunday (keep 'em peeled for a special guest!

The fabulous filling in the middle is a marvellous looking light show at the castle, markers markets and lantern making workshop, late night shopping and lots more...oh and of course a special guest appearance by the man in red and his antlered friends to find out if you've been naughty or nice and switch on the town's lights!

The Winter Festival is a family affair and we hope that all who call Ludlow home will come along and enjoy the atmosphere and various events over the weekend and kick start their festive season.

Looking ahead at the rest of December, the town plays host to the brilliant Tinsel Tuesday makers market - a great place to source a special locally made gift, and Santa and his helpers will be setting up grottos both in Ludlow Castle at at the Farmshop.

A full itinerary of the events:

Friday 25th
9-4pm: Festive Market on Castle Square
5-9pm: Christmas Bazaar in St Laurence's Church
7.30pm: Orleton Young Farmers Light up the Night Charity Tractor Run, ending in the Market Square where the tractors will be displayed.

Saturday 26th
9-6pm: Festive Market on Castle Square
10am-5pm: The St Laurence’s Winter Craft Fair and the Winter Festival competition and other activities for children
1-9pm: Artisan Makers' Market in the Beacon Rooms, Ludlow Castle
2-4pm: Santa's Grotto with his reindeer
2-5pm: Sunshine Radio stage has local choirs performing, panto characters in fancy dress and the town band performing Christmas favourites all on the Market Square.
2.30-4.30pm: Family lantern-making workshop at The Women’s Centre. Bring your family along to this FREE workshop to make your very own LED lantern. Take it for a wander around the Castle Gardens and then be ready for the light switch on. Hot chocolate and mulled wine for sale. All ages welcome. Free admission.
5pm: Christmas lights and Rotary Tree of Light switch-on.
5.30-9.30pm: Festival of Light in Ludlow Castle. A magical evening of light during which you will experience the castle as you never have before. Buildings will be transformed with Christmas-themed moving images, lights and sounds.
7.30pm: Eliza Carthy & The Restitution at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. 'Queen Of The Whirl' is a celebration of 30 years of silliness and profundity, with a crack team of musicians made up of Eliza's colleagues and counterparts.

Sunday 27th
9-4pm: Christmas Market on The Square
2pm: Family Film at Ludlow Assembly Rooms
7.30pm: Stand-up comedy at The Brewery. An evening of laughs from Noel James, Tal Davies with guest Alistair McGowan and compere Paul Jennings.