to the
Catholic Parish
of
St. John Paul II,
Nottingham
On Saturday 30 September 2024, the Good Shepherd Church hosted its annual Christmas Fair. The volunteers spent many long hours behind the scenes to bring this event to life and their time and talent was rewarded with over 1,000 visitors. The event raised a staggering £10,500.
The fair was opened by the Mayor of Gedling, Cllr Ron McCrossen along with Michael Payne MP. Councillors Kyle Robinson-Payne, Viv McCrossen, Lynda Pearson, Sandra Barnes and her husband Peter also supported the event throughout the day. Arnold Fire and Rescue and the local community Police delighted visitors with their presence, and children were able to explore inside their vehicles while chatting to these first responders.
Prices were set at an inclusive level with the hope that everyone who attended had a lovely time without having to spend too much. Children had free entry and a free Santa's grotto with a treat for every child. Every stall aimed at children had a gift every time, face painting was just £1 and food prices were frozen for another year, with hot dogs priced at just £2 each.
"Months of preparation but worth it in the end. More than just a fundraiser, we hopefully delivered a Christmas Fair that was financially inclusive so families who might be feeling the pinch were able to attend and experience some festive fun. We rely almost entirely on donations and it really is a privilege to have so much community support. I'd like to think that our event embodies the spirit of Christmas. The cherry on the cake has been having both the Mayor of Gedling and our local MP, as well as both fire and police officers each spend a few hours chatting to our visitors and volunteers. This boosted everyone's morale no end," says Sarah Benedek, organiser of the Christmas fair.
The date for next year's fair has already been reserved for Saturday 29 November 2025 10.30am to 2.30pm. Everyone welcome.
Sarah Benedek
3 Thackeray's Lane, Woodthorpe, Nottingham, NG5 4HT. Tel: (0115) 926 8288