Christmas Celebrations Kick Off in Hammersmith

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With concerts, festive films, virtual reality experiences - and trees giving away gifts

 

Christmas celebrations in Hammersmith have officially begun with concerts, film festive films, a special selfie competition, the chance to take virtual reality journeys in Lyric Square - and trees giving away gifts!

This year HammersmithLondon Business Improvement District (BID) is celebrating everything digital and has teammed up with Riverside Studios to offer people amazing virtual reality (VR) experiences.

Step into the special Alpine Cabin in the centre of Lyric Square and be whisked away on a digital journey where you can get up and close with polar bears, try your hand at virtual snowboarding or take a wander around New York at Christmas.

There will be a different experience each day until 21 December so make sure you keep coming back.

A photo competition is also on offer in the run-up to Christmas. To take part, simply snap a photo of yourself in Lyric Square and post to Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #digichristmas for the chance to win a google cardboard headset to watch VR and 360 videos in your own home.

The free VR experience is available between 11.30am and 7pm weekdays, and 11.30am and 6pm on weekends.

From this Saturday, 10 December till 17 December, local families can take a break from shopping and enjoy free festive films in the Hammersmith Movie Hub, a pop-up cinema in Kings Mall.

The three films, which came top in a seasonal poll by HammersmithLondon are Home Alone - which came top in the poll - Miracle on 34th Street and Elf.

Home Alone will be shown at the opening of the Hammersmith Movie Hub on Thursday, 8 December at 6pm, Saturday 17 December 17th at 11am and 3pm and Wednesday, 21 December at 2pm.

Miracle on 34th Street will be shown on Saturday, 10 December at 11am and 3pm, on Sunday, 18 December at 3pm and on Tuesday, 20 December at 2pm.

Elf will be shown on Sunday, 11 December at 11am and 3pm, on Sunday, 18 December at 11am and on Monday,  19 December at 2pm. The screenings are free but please register for tickets here. Space permitting, there will be additional tickets available at each screening.

This year, Hammersmith will have not one but three 25 feet high Christmas trees around the town centre. The trees will not only be illuminating the streets, they will also be giving gifts away.

Visit the trees after downloading the Hammersmith London's FREE E-Privilege Card and receive a special festive message and exclusive Christmas deal straight to your Smartphone. Just get up close to the tree and wait for your gift to arrive!

The E-Privilege Card is also the perfect companion for your Christmas shopping as it will help you unlock exclusive yuletide offers and fantastic money off deals at Hammersmith’s wide array of shops, restaurants and pubs. So whether you’re buying presents or need a rest after a busy day of shopping, the E-Privilege card will guide to where you need to be - and you can use the the free Lyric Square Wi-Fi to download it.

As well as these town centre events, a host of other seasonal celebrations are taking place around Hammersmith. Here's what's on offer:

Saturday 10 December, 1pm

ICC Christmas Trad Session

The Irish Cultural Centre would like to extend an open invitation to anyone who would like to come along to our Christmas music session on 10 December. This music session will be held by our music tutors and students. The Salutation Pub, 154 King St, Hammersmith W6 0QU (Opposite Hammersmith Town Hall) 1pm - 3pm

Saturday 10 December, 2pm - 4pm

All welcome at festive Craft Fayre for Christmas cards, stationery, decorations and make your own kids' workshops at St Andrew’s Church, Greyhound Road, West Kensington. The congregation and guests will bee joined by West London crafters and artists, including
stationery and Christmas cards from Designer Divya Venkatesh owner of Stationery Treasure.

There will also be wreaths, decorations and children’s Christmas crafts to enjoy as well as mulled wine and mince pies. 15% off all proceeds will go to St Andrew’s Church which does extensive work with the local community and the St Andrew’s Homeless Project.

Saturday 10 December, 7.30pm

At 7.30pm in St Peter's Church, Black Lion Lane, Petros Singers’ candlelit concert features Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, pieces by Rutter, Howells, Walton and Leighton and other favourites.  Find out more here.

Sunday  11 December ,   4pm

Holy Innocents Church in Paddenswick Road

MUSIC FOR ADVENT
presented by Chiswick Baroque

A programme of 5 part vocal Advent music Medieval to Modern with Carols old and new including music by Sweelinck, Philips, Dering, Sibelius and Harper.

Traditional Advent carols and spirituals, seasonal music and Celia Harper’s recent setting of Rowan Williams’ “Advent Calendar”.

Tickets on the door: £12 (£10), under 16s free.
Interval refreshments available. Proceeds to The Upper Room.

Friday 16 December, 7.30pm

CONCERT IN AID OF UNICEF SYRIA EMERGENCY APPEAL
Stirring, Stimulating and Cheering Music

CLARIPHONICS include DHRUPAD by Tim Doyle; fusing Western and Indian Classical music with electronics
SOUTH WEST BRASS play majestic and brilliant pieces for 3,5 & 10 piece brass ensemble including the Fanfare For St Edmundsbury by B. Britten and works by Percy Grainger, J.S. Bach & G. Gabrieli

RACHEL GORMAN – Violin, and Piano – (Pianist tbc)
Play NIGUN by Ernest Bloch
The Combined ensembles with Benjie del Rosario – Tenor, perform extracts from BRITTEN’S War requiem
Commemorating victims and heroes of war – Past & present

FREE ADMISSION – ALL WELCOME
Wine and light refreshments available during the interval.
Retiring collection for UNICEF

Tuesday 13 December, 3.30pm -

CHRISTMAS COMES TO STARCH GREEN

Come along to enjoy all things Christmas and to see the tree lights switched on at Starch Green, north of Ravenscourt Park. There will be carol singing with Santa, his elves and suitably snowy scenes, plus bauble and wreath making, performers, roasted chestnuts and some surprises for all!

This year’s event, once again organised by Askew Business Network in conjunction with Hammersmith Community Gardens Association, promises to be another great family occasion.

More carol singers are welcome to join the throng - please email info@askewbusiness.co.uk to volunteer. The tree lights go on at 4.30pm.

 

December 8, 2016

 

 

 

If you have a festive event you would like to see listed here email the details to: editor@hammersmithtoday.co.uk