This weekend, The Exchange invites the community to embark on a festive journey through time with its inaugural historic Christmas Tree Festival. A heartwarming celebration of past, present, and future, the event features themed trees meticulously crafted by children from schools across Blackburn with Darwen and dedicated volunteers from community organizations.
The creative teams, including Feniscowles School, The Making Rooms, and ARC (asylum and refugee community), have poured their artistic talents into designing trees representing each decade from 1850 to the futuristic beyond.
- Feniscowles School delves into the 1930s, showcasing handmade decorations inspired by the era when the first artificial trees were crafted by the same company that made toilet brushes.
- The Making Rooms team brings a touch of futurism with a tree crafted using cutting-edge design and production equipment from the Fab Lab studios.
- ARC volunteers transport us to the Dickensian era with a themed tree, paying homage to the decade when Charles Dickens himself read at The Exchange in 1869.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this free event marks the beginning of a comprehensive initiative to develop partnerships and explore the building’s potential for future activities.
Caer Butler, Director of Operations, expresses her enthusiasm, stating, “Each tree, from 1850 to 2000 and beyond, reflects the creative research and imaginative design by children, teachers, and community volunteers. Let the historic journey unfold through each bauble and string of lights, celebrating our Christmas tree heritage over the last 170 years and into the future.”
The Exchange envisions this festival as an annual tradition, uniting the community in festive joy. The Christmas tree lights will be illuminated by the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen at 4 pm on Saturday, 25th November.
Event Details:
Date and Time:
Saturday, 25th November: 4 pm – 9 pm
Sunday, 26th November: 12 pm – 4 pm
Weekend of 2nd and 3rd December: 12 pm – 4 pm
Stay tuned for updates on extended opening times based on demand, shared on Facebook and The Exchange Website. Don’t miss this enchanting journey through Christmas history!