REDDITCH was full of festive smiles this week as Father Christmas made a surprise visit to the town centre, stopping off at shops, cafes, and offices to spread seasonal cheer and create some special content for local businesses.
Organised by Redditch Business Improvement District (BID), the visit formed part of this year’s festive activities leading up to the town’s annual Christmas lights switch-on, which takes place from 5pm to 8pm next Saturday, November 29.
Santa will return to help switch on the lights alongside Gareth Gates, marking the official start of Redditch’s Christmas celebrations.
During his walkabout, Santa also visited Honeybees Nursery, where he delivered a bundle of brand new children’s books kindly donated by Tesco.
The visit was met with delight by both shoppers and staff and many businesses took the opportunity to capture photos and videos for their own social media channels.
Speaking after the visit, Muj Rahman, BID manager, said: “Bringing Santa into the town centre is about more than just festive fun – it’s about supporting our local businesses, celebrating community spirit, and helping create moments that bring people together.
“It’s been a fantastic day, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for the Christmas Lights Switch-On later this month.”
