Our community events started off with an amazing Fireworks Display and Halloween Howler competition on Friday 28^th October. Every year the pumpkin entries get even better, and the display table gets even longer!

Our Mayor, Cllr Dave Jasper, had so much fun judging the array of pumpkins on display and after a lot of careful deliberation, picked this year’s three winners (pictured left with the Mayor and their incredible carved creations), who each received Sainsbury’s vouchers and chocolates for their amazing effort.

Take a look at the full gallery of pumpkins below and some impressive snaps of the fireworks taken by our very own Councillor Paul Heasman.

The annual Snow Party event, held on Saturday 26^th November, proved to be as popular as ever with Santa’s Grotto tickets selling out very quickly. The grotto looked stunning and Santa was thrilled to meet all his special guests. With Sedgefield Youth Club selling refreshments and treats from the main kitchen and lots of fun activities like bouncy castle and face painter in the main hall, the Parish Hall was alive with Christmas joy all afternoon. The range of stall holders in Ceddesfeld Hall brought in a large crowd looking to do a spot of Christmas shopping. Thanks to the SCA for continuing to support this event every year, and to the Pop In’s Wendy Rowley and volunteers for the delicious spread of drinks and nibbles. After a lovely, short carol service in St Edmund’s led by Lay Minister Michael King and musical accompaniment by Ukelele Smile Time, Santa and his friends gathered on the Turning Circle to switch on the town’s Christmas lights. Congratulations to this year’s lucky glow raffle winner Ava Kitchen, aged 5 (pictured right with the Mayor of Sedgefield moments before pressing the magic button), who had the pleasure of lighting up the village green and won an annual family pass to Beamish.

The Mayor’s Carol Service at St Edmund’s Church was such a delight, with the joint schools choir back for an incredible performance. Well done to everyone involved in the service, it’s such a lovely way to get into the festive spirit and begin the countdown to Christmas. Thanks as always go to Lay Minister Michael King for the service.

Every year we issue a craft activity to Sedgefield Primary School and Hardwick Primary School in the lead up to the Snow Party. This year the pupils were tasked with making a Christmas lantern with a template and LED tea light provided, which they could hang on their Christmas tree or bring along to our lights switch on event. The Mayor of Sedgefield, Cllr Dave Jasper, was tasked with the impossible job of visiting the schools and picking a winner from each participating class! Congratulations to the winners below for their wonderful designs!