Christmas swim at Charmouth

Why not enjoy a Christmas break and do your Christmas shopping away from the hectic pressure of a big city high street. The attractive county town of Dorchester hosts a traditional Christmas parade with Father Christmas and his helpers on Wednesday the 2^nd of December. The town’ shops and businesses join in the Christmas spirit and there is live music and entertainment from 5:30pm. Festive stalls, chestnuts and mulled wine will get you in the mood for some relaxed Christmas shopping. There is free parking in the town centre from 4:30pm.

On Wednesday the 9^th of December Bridport’s Christmas Festival and late night shopping kicks off with craft, food and charity stalls, a farmers market and Santa’s Grotto. Music and entertainment will add to the festive feeling – things get started at around 6:00pm.

If you are in the Briport area don’t forget to have look at the Christmas Tree Festival. This wonderful exhibition of 65 decorated and illuminated trees is in its 11^th year. Each tree with a different theme is donated by a charity or a local community group. The festival runs from the 9^th to 16^th of December in the Bridport United Church in East Street and admission if free.

For those of a more hardy nature how about enjoying a festive sea swim! You could start off with the Fancy Dress Swim in aid of the RNLI on Christmas Day morning in Charmouth (11:00am) and then try The West Bay Wallow, a charity fancy dress swim off East Beach in West Bay which happens at midday on Boxing Day. Of course if you’re not feeling that hardy you can just enjoy the fun as a spectator and help to support a worthy cause!