6th December 2025
Sheerness Highstreet
Kent CRP at the Sheerness Christmas Event
Early on Saturday 6th, we mustered near the Clock Tower on Sheerness High Street to get our stall ready for the festival celebrations that day.
Chris Reed from The Big Fish Arts kindly lent us a gazebo for the day which was perfect, and we joined the Sheerness Charities area of the Fair running from the Clocktower along the High Street. We were lucky not to get any rain that day, however the wind presented a unique challenge. Along with other stall holders, we came up with creative solutions to keep all our free promo and goodie bags attached to the stall so they didn’t blow away with the next gust of wind!
Organised by Sheerness Town Council, the Christmas Event was a festive treat with stilt walking jugglers and a Christmas orchestra playing our favourite Christmas tunes at the base of the Clocktower. Sheppey Matters Radio was also present and lifted festive spirits with a great DJ set.
On the Kent CRP Stall, we had Project officer Vicky Wright and KCRP committee members Jonathan Fryer and Dominic Noades. There was a steady flow of interaction, and we gave out an array of goodies from Christmas KCRP train colouring in, Railway 200 pencils, tote bags and information leaflets (including how to get involved with KCRP and local cycle and walking maps).
We were lucky to have Kevin Mckenna, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey pay us a visit, and had some exciting conversations about potential new funding for local buses, which will be vital to connect more people with the railway line and expand the options for sustainable integrated travel. We also shared with him the success of the “I heart Sheppey” project led by our key station adopter EKC Sheppey Secondary School.
The Christmas Lantern Parade
As dusk set in around 4pm, there was a very special gathering outside Sheerness MacDonalds. There had been whispers and excited conversations we had heard from members of the public all day about the Lantern Parade.
Organised by Chris Reed from Big Fish Arts, a 2 month program of workshops in local school had taken place with children making their own lanterns. With it being the 200th anniversary of passenger rail travel this year, with the first train carrying passengers on 27th September 1825, the chosen theme for this years lantern parade was RAILWAY 200 and TRAINS!!!
There were some wonderful creations. Leading the lantern parade was a large 2-person carried lantern train. There was an impressive variance of train lanterns, all different colours and designs, interspersed with stars and other beautiful shapes.
With the Sheerness Samba Band located close to the front of the parade, they kicked off the proceedings, with around 200 members of the community of all ages, families and friends, and everyone welcome.
Members of the public and passers by lined up on the pavement in anticipation as the parade passed by. You can watch the film of the parade created by Newsflare.
Thank you
Our thanks go to Sheerness Town Council for hosting the event and the Big Fish Arts for choosing Railway 200 to be the Lantern Parade Theme for 2025!
