Carols around the Christmas Tree a guide 2019

We are really excited about welcoming you to our now annual Carols around the Christmas tree this Saturday. To help you get there safely and enjoy the event please see details below. The event is being led by the Churches on Kings Hill (St Gabriel’s and The Christian Fellowship) and supported by the Maidstone Wind Symphony all of us are volunteers. This is a community event for Kings Hill and we want it to be fun for all, so please use common sense at all times.

WEATHER

It’s been cold, it’s been raining, but it’s always been a great event, so whatever the weather it will still go ahead . We want to make sure we honour all the preparations and effort that have been put in by the schools and choirs.

Getting there

The best way to get to Liberty Square is to walk. It doesn’t take long from most parts of Kings Hill (unless of course you are travelling with a toddler) and it will keep you fit.

As you know parking around Kings Hill can be difficult at the best of times and we are expecting large numbers to the event. So if you can please leave the car at home. If you do have to come by car please use the various car parks (the Liberty Square one is likely to be full). Please don’t park on Queen Street, Milton Lane and Fortune Way as these are always busy and be very considerate to residents if you have to park not using the car parks (please only do this as a last resort).

 At the end of the event

You will be able to leave Liberty Square from most exits, but not the ones by the doctors or Liberty Office due to health and safety reasons. Please remember there is a car park next to the square, and also the roads are not being closed, so be considerate to motorists and if you are driving, be considerate to pedestrians. If you are heading towards the Spitfire, please pay attention to the stewards and do not walk through the car park (for safety reasons). You may even see Father Christmas on your way there!

What’s Happening?

The event will be led from a stage that will be situated next to the Christmas tree on the grass between the Doctors Surgery and the Control Tower. We start at 5 PM where there will be a welcome and then the first Carol. After the first Carol the lights will be switched on and following that there will be songs by the Kings Hill schools interspersed with carols led by Maidstone Wind Symphony. We expect the event to finish around 6.15pm. This is a standing only event!

Lighting

Please bring a torch to see the Carol Sheets, although there is a lot of ambient light in Liberty Square and of course everyone will have lanterns with them, it can be a little difficult to read the words.

Access to Liberty Square

You will not be able to access Liberty Square from the path by the doctors surgery, or the one next to the Control Tower by the Liberty office.

The grassed area between the Doctors Surgery and the Control Tower is our backstage and will be used to keep the School Choirs safe and allow them ease of access to the stage. This means that you will not be able to walk on the grass areas by the tree whilst the event is taking place unless you are in the school Choirs.

Charitable donations

You can drop off your donations of toys to the Liberty offices in the control tower where members of the Salvation Army or Kings Hill Rotary will gladly receive them.

First-aid

If you have any issues needing first-aid attention during the event you will find two first aiders near the Liberty offices in the control tower.

Stewards

They will be guiding people and are there to help. If you have any problems please contact them in the first instance and they should be able to help you out.

They will also be your guides at the end of the event to help you leave safely.

Photographs

We would love you to take photos of the event and share them with us. You can do this via social media using #khcarols and tagging us in them. There will be a photo-gallery in the days after the event on www.kingshillchurch.org.uk There will also be official photographers at the event taking photos through out.