This Christmas, Sheffield Cathedral will sparkle and shine with more than 30 beautifully decorated Christmas Trees. The Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival opens on 30 November, the same night as the Cathedral’s Christmas light show: The Beginning and runs through to 2 January.
“It’s a very special time of the year in the Cathedral,” says Ben Rossi, Sheffield Cathedral’s Development Manager. “Having so many trees in this special place adds to the magic of Christmas.
“Being able to welcome visitors in person to the festival after last year just makes it even better. There’s still time for more trees to be sponsored. If you are interested please get in touch.”
Entry to the festival is free (although the Lightshow is a ticketed event) and visitors will be able to vote for their favourite tree. Afterwards all the trees will be chipped and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.
As well as the trees and lights, the famous Sheffield Steel Nativity will be in the Nave of the Cathedral. “At Christmas, families come to see the nativity scene and enjoy our Carol Services as part of their celebrations,” says Reverend Canon Keith Farrow Vice Dean and Canon Missioner of the Cathedral. “These are long-established traditions of Christmas at the Cathedral and in recent years we have added to these traditions with the Christmas light show, and Christmas Tree Festival. They too are now much-loved parts of our festive events.”
The Christmas Tree Festival is being sponsored by etiCloud and Utilita Energy. Explaining why Utilita Energy decided to sponsor the festival Callum Slavin said: “I love Christmas and from Utilita’s perspective it makes sense to support this wonderful event. It gives us the opportunity to connect with the people of Sheffield and the chance to educate people about how to reduce their energy costs this winter while keeping warm.
“In-keeping with our ‘Wear Warm’ campaign, our tree will have mini Christmas jumper decorations that children can help themselves to and decorate at home ready for their own tree.”
Simon Tomlinson, director of etiCloud, said: “The festival is a wonderful way to bring the community together at a magical time of the year. It’s a way for charities and businesses to tell the world what they are doing at Christmas.”
For more information or take part visit www.sheffieldcathedral.org/christmas-tree-festival-2021 or email arts@sheffield-cathedral.org.uk. Sponsorship of a tree is £250 for a business and £75 for a school or community group. The Cathedral will provide the tree and the lights. Sponsors are asked to decorate their tree. Closing date for sponsorship is 19 November.
