Pilgrims Hospices Ashford Christmas Fair delights hundreds and raises over £13,000
Pilgrims Hospices Ashford hosted a heartwarming Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 25th, at the Grosvenor Hall in Ashford. The festive extravaganza drew in hundreds of visitors who came together to embrace the spirit of the season while supporting a noble cause.
Attendees were treated to a delightful array of festive activities, creating a magical atmosphere for families and friends alike. Children revelled in the joyous occasion with an abundance of toys and games, while adults savoured the seasonal delights of coffee and mince pies.
Santa Claus made a special appearance, spreading cheer and joy among the attendees and adding an extra layer of magic to the event. The Christmas Fair also provided a unique shopping experience, with an opportunity for patrons to purchase festive crafts and gifts, making it the perfect destination to kickstart the holiday season.
Thank you to everyone who came along on the day. Our volunteers were splendid; we could not have achieved this without them.
Louise – Pilgrims
The event, held at the Grosvenor Hall in Ashford, not only brought the community together but also raised a remarkable sum of over £13,000. The funds generated during the fair will contribute to the invaluable work of Pilgrims Hospices in providing compassionate care and support to those facing life-limiting illnesses.
Louise Newman, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager, expressed her gratitude, stating: “We had such a brilliant time, and everyone was so supportive. Thank you to everyone who came along on the day. Our volunteers were splendid; we could not have achieved this without them.”
Pilgrims Hospices extends heartfelt appreciation to the community, volunteers, and sponsors who contributed to the success of the Christmas Fair, making it a memorable and impactful event. The support received will undoubtedly make a significant difference in the lives of those in need during the holiday season and beyond.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
8th November 2023
Pilgrims Hospices Christmas Fair and Craft Market: A Festive extravaganza for the whole family!
Get ready to kick off the festive season with a bang as Pilgrims Hospices proudly presents the 2023 Christmas Fair & Craft Market! We’re thrilled to announce our new venue for this year’s festive fiesta – Kingswood, Grosvenor Hall in Ashford. Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 25th, and get ready for a day of pure Christmas magic!
What’s in store for you?
This year, we’ve pulled out all the stops to make your Christmas season extra special. With an array of stalls brimming with seasonal crafts and gifts, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Find that perfect present for your loved ones, or simply immerse yourself in the holiday spirit by enjoying live festive music, delicious homemade refreshments, and more. We’ve got something for everyone!
Kids’ Corner Fun Children, brace yourselves for an incredible craft corner! You can decorate a gingerbread shape, paint a mug or plate, and dive into other creative crafts that will spark your imagination. Don’t miss the chance to join in the fun with exciting games like Snowballs in a Bucket, Pick a Candy Cane, and Snowman Hoopla. Plus, we have a surprise for your little ones – special appearances by Superman and Wonder Woman!
Meet Santa Claus
Santa Claus is coming to town – and he’s making a pit stop at Pilgrims Hospices’ Christmas Fair! Visit Santa in his brand-new ‘Yurt’ grotto, straight from the North Pole. Don’t forget to bring your wish list; you might just get a sneak peek at some holiday magic.
Supporting a Worthy Cause
By attending our Christmas Fair & Craft Market, you’ll be spreading joy and making a difference in the lives of those in need. Your participation helps Pilgrims Hospices support people across east Kent who are living with an incurable illness, making the holiday season a little brighter for them.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, November 25, 2023 Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Venue: Kingswood, Grosvenor Hall, Kennington, Ashford, TN25 4AJ
Entry Fees
Adults: £3.00
Children: Free
Visit Santa: £4 (*Children’s admission applies to anyone under 16 years old.)
Parking
Free parking is available on site. Follow the signs as you enter the gates and take directions from our friendly car parking marshals.
Please Note
As much as we love furry friends, dogs are not allowed at this event.
Don’t miss the most spectacular start to your holiday season – join us at Pilgrims Hospices Christmas Fair & Craft Market on November 25th. Let’s make this festive season one to remember, together!
Each year Pilgrims supports thousands of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services, from end-of-life care given on its wards, to its Wellbeing Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
14th December 2022
Thousands raised at Pilgrims Hospices Victorian Christmas Fayre
Pilgrims Hospices first Victorian Christmas Fayre held at Kennington Hall on 19 and 20 November 2022 was a huge success and started the charity’s annual festive fundraising events.
Over £13,000 was raised and 1,200 people attended the beautiful Georgian country house to show their support for the local charity who provide free end of life care throughout east Kent.
Visitors enjoyed delicious refreshments, crafts, festive bargains, games galore, live music from the Invicta Ukulele Club and Hythe U3a Swing Band.
There was also lots to keep children entertained in the craft corner, including decorate a gingerbread man or paint a plate. The man of the moment, Father Christmas himself, also handed out presents to lots of excited children.
Special guest appearances from Superman, Wonder Woman and Elsa from Frozen also added to the entertainment, along with the cast of Cinderella from Ashford Theatre Society.
Many local companies and organisations showed their support and donated towards the weekend, including Supercups Vending Ltd, Bigjigs Toys, Wye Butchers, Bradleys, Tesco Crooksfoot, Ashford South Active Retirement Association and Korkers Sausages.
Community Fundraising Manager, Louise Newman, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who donated items or joined us on the day. Many thanks to all of our 100 strong team of volunteers who helped to make this success possible.
A big thank you to Roby and her team at Kennington Hall who supported the weekend from start to finish and went the extra mile to make the fayre possible.”
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
16th November 2018
Pilgrims Hospices Christmas Fair hailed as a success
Pilgrims Hospices Christmas Fair was a fabulous success on Saturday 10 November with almost £18,000 raised towards the work of the hospice.
This year saw the introduction of a food market, with delights to tempt including vegan Christmas roasts, mulled cider, delicious fudge, delightful cheeses, jams and chutneys, and mince pie flavoured ice cream.
There were a variety of new crafts for sale from the external traders including stunning pottery, beautiful glass, cute baby goods, jewellery made from Nespresso pods, eco food wraps and much more.
There were many beautifully created crafts that hospice volunteers made and donated for the fair. Whether it was the table decorations which were made from old Christmas trees, unwanted baubles and ribbons or the lovely hand knitted goods, there was something for everyone.
Rush and Isla Dann
Carole Mann, Cara Herligy and Cristina Sandy
Invicta Ukulele Club
Eve Russell (8) from Ashford
Open the Box, a new game introduced at the fair this year, was full of special surprises for everyone and proved to be very popular, as did the chocolate tombola that was close to being addictive!
Father Christmas made a special visit too, much to the delight of children who had eagerly awaited his visit. There were some other special guests too; Elsa from Frozen, a unicorn and members of the Ashford Panto entertained visitors throughout the day.
Cynthia Cleverdon, one of the external stall holders, said: “The atmosphere at the fair is always very friendly and supportive. I love to support Pilgrims Hospices because we all know at least one person who has benefitted from the care and kindness the hospices provide at a difficult stage of life.”
The atmosphere at the fair is always very friendly and supportive.
Cynthia Cleverdon, stall holder
This year, the Pilgrims Hospices Education team was delighted to be present at the fair to promote the Time to Talkprogramme they run. These include film nights, poetry readings and Death Cafes, which give the opportunity to talk about the issues surrounding death and dying.
Victoria Friar, Pilgrims Hospices Community Fundraising Manager, said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the Ashford Fundraising team and all the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the months before the fair. Over 100 volunteers turned up on the day to make the fair the great success that it was.
“I would also like to say a thank you to Penfold Panels for sponsoring the event and helping us to make it such a success.
“Pilgrims Hospices needs to raise £11 million per year to offer care free of charge to the people of east Kent. We couldn’t do this without the support of the local community, so a huge thank you goes to everyone who came and contributed to this fantastic total.”
Kate Duddell from Pilgrims Hospices with Ebony Hills, Sam Hills and Tom Easby
Over the next couple of weeks, Pilgrims will see the exciting end of the Snowdogs trail with the Farewell Weekend at the Julie Rose Stadium and Gala Auction on 3 December at Ashford International Hotel.
Each year Pilgrims supports hundreds of local people coping with a life-limiting illness and their families. The charity offers a range of services: from end of life care given on its wards to its Wellbeing and Social Programme supporting people after they are diagnosed to live well and stay independent.
