Windows around the Oatlands area of Harrogate will be lit up to tell a festive tale a week before Christmas.
Families are being invited to tour the streets and follow the story of Robin Red Breast on his mission from Santa, to gather his friends together and cook a Christmas meal to feed the community.
It is being organised by Oatlands Community Group and will, fittingly, raise funds for A Seat At My Table, a series of community meals it serves each year to 40 local people who would otherwise eat alone.
The Christmas meal will be held at Oatlands Community Centre on Sunday, December 18, and the Christmas trail takes place that afternoon from 4pm to 6pm.
Organiser Vic Smith-Dunn said:
“While the trail is completely free, we are hopeful that if people enjoy the trail they will consider making a donation to our fundraising efforts to keep Oatlands Community Centre running.
“The community centre depends heavily on fundraising to generate an income to ensure that it can remain open and an asset to our community.”
The Christmas window trail has been held every year since 2016 when Oatlands Community Group was established. There are nine windows decorated on a route that takes in Mount Street, Cromwell Road, Hookstone Avenue, Beech Road and Leeds Road.
One of the Oatlands window displays and some of the knitted robins to be given to children.
On returning to the community centre, participants can enjoy hotdogs, popcorn, cakes, mulled wine and hot chocolate served by volunteers.
There will also be an opportunity to meet Father Christmas and each child will be given a robin knitted by a member of the Oatlands community.
Anyone who would like to take part is asked to register on the event’s website to ensure there are enough knitted robins to go around.
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Mrs Smith-Dunn said any donations received would go back into running the community centre and putting on events to support people in the area.
She also appealed for volunteers to help organise the events, including the four community meals which range from afternoon teas in the summer to a Christmas meal with a quiz and other entertainment.
She added:
“There is no charge for residents to attend these events which makes it accessible to everyone who attends. We’re able to do this with the support of local independence like KD fruiterers and Verity Frearsons who generously donate.
“The community centre is the home of Oatlands Community Group and the myLifePool social enterprise, without access to this valuable community space, community initiatives like A Seat At My Table would not be able to deliver community out reach.
“It would be fantastic if this Christmas, Harrogate people would come along and enjoy this community event and in turn support the sustainability of Oatlands Community Centre.”
While this year’s Christmas meal is fully booked, anyone interested in future community meals can call Oatlands Community Group on 07596 838508. To make a donation to the group, visit its website.