FEATURED | Ross-on-Wye prepares for its annual Christmas Fayre and Lights switch on this Sunday with thousands expected to visit the market town

Ross-on-Wye is busy preparing for one of its biggest and busiest events of the year! 

The annual Christmas Fayre and Christmas Lights switch on will take place on Sunday 26th November, with thousands of people expected to gather in the market town.

There will be fantastic stalls and plenty of entertainment for the whole family ahead of the Christmas Lights switch on that will take place at 4.30pm.

The Christmas Fayre will take place between 11am-5pm.

Visitors can expect over 80 stalls selling beautiful gift ideas and treats, as well as plenty of food and drink on offer from the wonderful traders. 

There will be some fantastic entertainment including live music from the Border Belles, Erica Jean, Chocolate Teapot, Penyard Singers and Noah Rawlings. Street entertainment from Elf on the Shelf and his reindeer friend, Joey the Juggler, face painting, plus the addition of some fairground rides.

Ross-on-Wye Town Council have also confirmed the Fayre will be visited by a very special guest, Floki the animatronic polar bear, who will be meeting the residents of Ross and adding a little extra Christmas sparkle.

From Ross-on-Wye Town Council:

Following numerous nominations received, Ross-on-Wye Town Council is delighted to announce that local two-year-old boy, Alfie McDonald, will be turning on the town’s Christmas Lights this year at the Christmas Fayre on Sunday 26th November.

We received several nominations for Alfie and we were moved by his story and bravery. 

The decision was made by the Christmas Fayre committee and REHAU the sponsors of this year’s lights switch on.

On March 6th this year Alfie suffered a prolonged seizure which caused damage to the left hand side of his brain, which was caused by a gene mutation he was born with. A gene that only 1 of 13 people are registered with in the UK, and 1 of 189 people worldwide. 

Alfie has right sided Hemiplegia and Hypertonia, which means his right limbs, body trunk, postural muscles were all initially affected. He has also lost peripheral vision in both eyes.

After 9 weeks in hospital and a further 12 weeks at The Children’s Trust for rehab Alfie is back home and has regained full neck control, sitting balance, weaned back onto normal diet/fluids and has learnt to adapt to turn his head to see things more clearly. He has also started to crawl, and his speech has developed hugely.

Alfie’s mum, Courtney, said: “We have a strong, resilient, brave little boy who will no doubt fight off any hurdles he may/may not come to in life.

“My partner and I are both completely over the moon that Alfie has been picked to switch on the Ross Christmas lights. We really were not expecting this, but it is a wonderful gesture, and it is so heartwarming that people are cheering on our boy and felt that he deserved to switch on the lights.”