The Bedford Christmas Tree Festival returns for its 25th year, beginning this coming Wednesday (6 December), with a new theme of Christmas present, past and future to celebrate the milestone anniversary.
Since the last annual festival, the organising committee has been awarded the Fundraiser of the Year (Team), sponsored by White Hart Press, at the Bedford Independent Everyday Hero Awards for “raising a quarter of a million pounds over 25 years”.
Read: A night to remember with Borough’s Everyday Heroes recognised as the “spirit of Bedford”
This is split between the Church and Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends.
The honorary chairman of the event, Margaret Oakley, 74, from Great Denham, said: “It still hasn’t sunk in – the fundraiser of the year. There must be so many other fundraisers in the town.
“This is our 25th year. It’s a special year for us to think that the festival has been on the go for 25 years. It was a great tribute, not just for the people in the team at the moment, but also for the lady, Jeanette Hanling, who started it all off, who is sadly is no longer with us.
She added, “I think it’s great to celebrate the fact that it was her vision 25 years ago, and we’re still going strong now, and probably bigger than ever.”
Displays for everyone
The event brings together local schools, community groups and businesses to decorate 70 Christmas trees, creating displays for everyone to enjoy at St Paul’s Church. This year, all 70 trees were allocated in two weeks.
Read: Bedford’s Christmas Tree Festival marks 25 years of fundraising and festive joy
Margaret, who has been involved with Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends for nearly 40 years, added, “The demand is there to take part. People want to get involved with this big community effort, and it just seems to grow and grow.”
It costs just £4 to enter the festival, and last year’s festival raised £23,000, with the aim of raising even more this year.
“I don’t feel as if I’m a hero, just feel as if I’m somebody who wants to contribute to society and to our local community,” said Margaret
Read: Bedford Christmas Tree Festival raises a magical £23,000 for two local charities
The Christmas Tree Festival will run over five days from Wednesday (3 December) to Sunday (7 December), at St Paul’s Church in Bedford, where everyone is welcome to come along and help raise money for St Paul’s Church and Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends.
Nominations for the Bedford Independent Everyday Heroes Awards 2025 are already open. Head to our simple-to-fill-in form below or here and help say “thank you” to the unsung heroes who make Bedford brilliant.
