This time next week Rye’s Christmas lights will be up and lit – something that was looking almost unthinkable a month ago. Previous plans to install the lights fell through because of changes at the charity running the Rye Christmas Festival, as well as funding and safety concerns.
A mammoth fundraising effort around town means new lights will be installed from Monday 24 November. As well as both sides of Rye High Street, there will also be lights on Hilders Cliff, parts of The Mint, Lion Street and Market Road.
“It’s all sorted. I can’t wait to see them up!” said Fran Huxley from Simply Rye who has been working with Michael Jones from Merchant & Mills and Rye Town Council to find a solution.
She paid tribute to the working group, the volunteers collecting money and the people who have donated. “It’s all thanks to the kind donations from people in Rye and the local businesses that this has been possible. We’ve smashed our target for this year with some money set aside for next year too.”
The lights will be put up by Kent firm We Hang Christmas Lights, run by Mike Larkin – affectionately know as Mike the Light to the volunteers. “He has pulled out all the stops to make the lights happen for Rye this year,” said Fran Huxley. “The town will look incredible and both locals and visitors are going to love seeing Rye in all its full festive glory.”
With the lights being turned on it’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas in Rye. Many of the town’s shops have Christmas windows as part of the competition run by Rye Chamber of Commerce, Rye News and Rye Town Council. The Christmas tree at The George was put up on Tuesday 18 November, and John Ryan’s The Adoration of the Magi tableau is in place in front of Rye Town Hall.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .