District Dispatch - 21 November 2023

If you're already thinking about your Christmas shopping, our fantastic high streets in Chichester, Selsey, East Wittering, Midhurst and Petworth have so much to offer. We're lucky to have some amazing local and independent businesses selling a wide range of wonderful gifts for your loved ones, so please show your support.

And if you're out and about for the day, do take the opportunity to drop in to one of the district's cafes or restaurants. Our Chichester District Council app includes an 'Eating out' section that lists local eateries and their Food Hygiene Ratings. Find out how to download the app by visiting our webpage.

To help people shop locally, we're offering two festive parking offers. Firstly, when you select two hours using the MiPermit app during weekends in December, you will get the third hour free. The app is available to use in most council-owned car parks across the district and you can find out more on our Chichester District Council MiPermit webpage.

We're also offering free parking in Avenue de Chartres car park in Chichester on Sundays during December. You can find the locations of all of our car parks by visiting our Chichester District Council car parks page or downloading our Chichester District Council app — and looking under the 'Find my nearest' tab.

The city, towns and villages across the district are organising plenty of festive events to help get you into the festive spirit. Just a couple of dates for your diary include the Chichester Christmas Light Switch On, organised by Chichester BID and the Rotary Club, which will be taking place at 6.30pm this Saturday (25 November), and the Midhurst Christmas Street Party from 5pm until 8pm on Friday 1 December! Make sure you take a look at our Chichester District What's On pages and follow our Chichester District Events and Markets Facebook page (opens new window).

I'm also pleased to tell you that the Chichester Christmas market will be returning this year. Chichester Christmas Cheer will take place on Saturday 9, Sunday 10, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December. We'll still be running our regular Chichester Farmers' Market — where you can buy all your festive food from local producers — and the Wednesday and Saturday general markets over the Christmas period, both of which will take place in their normal locations.

Chichester's special Starlight Trail is also returning on 7 December. You'll be able to collect your Starlight Trail passport from The Novium Museum, Pallant House Gallery, or Chichester Library, before making a star lantern at your first venue. You can then take part in a variety of festive crafts and activities, collecting stamps along the way. If you collect all three stamps, you'll be entered into a prize draw to win a £30 Chichester Gift Card, which has been kindly donated by Chichester BID. The event runs from 4pm until 7pm and costs £6.50 per child.  

Our Chichester District Countdown to Christmas web pages are filled with information on places to shop, our services over the Christmas period, parking offers, events, and markets, so make sure you visit them on our website. On this page, you can also download free personalised tags and wrapping paper designs for our city and each of our towns to use on your Christmas gifts.

And finally, remember to join us in Chichester city centre for the second City Sounds multi-venue music festival this Saturday (25 November). You can follow a musical map of the city and soak up the original sounds of more than 40 local musicians at a variety of venues from midday, completely free of charge! You can find the full line-up and venues on the City Sounds website (opens new window).

Best Wishes

Cllr Adrian Moss

Leader of Chichester District Council