Falmouth’s Virtual Christmas Tree Festival
This year it has not been possible to hold Falmouth’s Christmas Tree Festival as we usually would at Princess Pavilion and Gyllyngdune Gardens, but we were determined that this much loved event would still be celebrated, albeit in a different way.
The Festival itself has gone virtual, although The Mayor of Falmouth, Steve Eva, has kindly donated a beautiful tree to display at Gyllyngdune Gardens grown locally by Paul and Joy Watts on their Christmas Tree farm down the road at Playing Place, so that there is still a little bit of actual Christmas sparkle to brighten people’s day.
Community groups, families and individuals have been busy making themed decorations, hanging them on their own trees and sending in photographs/ videos to create a Virtual Christmas Tree Festival.
This year’s theme is ‘Journeys’, inspired by the Falmouth Art Gallery’s current exhibition, ‘There and Back’. The theme could be interrupted in any way – be it physical, mental, spiritual or imagined. It could be inspired by a journey people wish to make to warmer climes, the psychological journey that has been experienced this year or a celebration of the traditional aspects of Christmas with the journey of the Mary and Joseph and the Three Kings. The scope was broad and the choice was wide. The decorations on the tree in Gyllyngdune Gardens depict the Garden’s journey in recent years through the hands of all the gardeners and volunteers over the last ten years who have made it what it is today.
You may spot some familiar faces on the tree if you get the chance to visit the Gardens in person. We hope that you really enjoy all of these wonderful creations and hopefully next year the Festival will be back in its rightful place, bigger and better than ever.
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year!
Jacqui
Jacqui Owen
Visitor and Community Engagement Officer, Cultural Services, Falmouth Town Council
Falmouth’s ‘Journeys’ themed Virtual
Christmas Tree Festival
1. Blue Class (Year 1), Falmouth Primary Academy
Decorations made by the children of Blue Class (year 1) at Falmouth Primary Academy depicting the journey in the Nativity story.
2. Jean Cook
Decorations made by Jean Cook. Click here to view a video of her tree
3. A&P’s Apprentices
A&P’s apprentices made this tree to depict their journey from 1st Year apprentices to fully skilled tradespeople
4. Mission to Seafarers
Penny Phillips, Mission to Seafarers:
“We do not have an actual tree this year, so have decorated our Agave!
The journey depicted is of food and goods from many countries to ours – with shipping containers, fruit and packet food, and the tinsel representing the movement of the waves bringing ships to the UK. It is important that we remember seafarers at this time, as they make Christmas possible – bringing all the food and presents to make our Christmas special.”
