CHANDOS WINDOW WANDERLAND
January 28 & 29 2023
IF you’re looking for things to do to alleviate the winter evening gloom, look no further – Chandos Window Wanderland returns for its eighth year on January 28 and 29.
It’s a family- friendly free event, where residents are invited to light and decorate their windows, gardens, cars, vans … During light-up times (6-9pm), everyone is invited to wrap up warmly and enjoy a wander round the streets in the Chandos Road BS6 area, to hunt out and admire the varied, fun and inspiring displays.
The locations are marked on our Chandos event Window Wanderland map, available online at https://www.windowwanderland.com/event/chandos-bristol-2023
This year’s theme is animals but even that is optional so those with other creative ideas can happily participate. Displays can be wildly creative or very simple. Strings of lights, pictures in the windows, garden displays, favourite toys or books on the window shelf, even a home disco, karaoke session or live theatre – anything goes, as long as its family friendly , and of course, the more participants, the merrier. We’d love to have whole streets lit up with fairy lights!
The idea for Window Wanderland started in Bishopston over nine years ago, and has now cascaded out round the country and indeed, round the world, which is testimony to how enjoyable this event is. During the evening wander, it’s fun to share your favourite window sightings with fellow wanderers, and bump into neighbourhood friends.
Taking part is entirely free but we encourage those who are putting up displays to sign-up on the Window Wanderland site so that their location gets on the map and their efforts can be seen and admired. And there’s no charge for wandering round, though you might like to keep a bit of change handy for refreshments at a local store or hostelry.
This year, Chandos Neighbourhood Association has a just-giving page in memory of our local landlord, Mark Farrell, who passed away this autumn. Mark opened his micropub Chums in Chandos Road in 2016 with the aim of creating a welcoming friendly space for a drink and chat with friends, excellent music sessions and quiz nights. Mark more than succeeded in his aim – Chums became a much loved community hub and its closure has left a huge gap in our neighbourhood. Mark was always generous with his time & skills to help with all our local community events including Window Wanderland, and we all miss him greatly. If you’ve enjoyed our Window Wanderland and wish to donate, please go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chandosna All donations will go to the RNLI, Mark’s chosen charity.
If you are in our area (or even just outside the map area – that’s OK with us!), get your creative decorating caps on and pop a display or two in your windows. Over our Window Wanderland weekend, come out to join us for an early evening stroll with a difference. Perhaps see how many animals you can find? And most importantly, don’t forget to wrap up warmly!
Fiona McVey