SHOPKEEPERS in Elland are putting on a major town centre event to make this Christmas a home-made one.
And they hope the community will get into the festive spirit and join in the fun and festivities.
On Sunday, November 25 they will throw a Christmas party, to be held at Berties, Brook Street, in the town centre, from 11am until late afternoon.
As well as a visit from Father Christmas and his reindeers, there will be entertainment from choirs, a swing band and the chance to buy presents made and sold in the town.
The businesses have created a giant paper chair with a link representing each business, which will be on display along with giant Christmas decorations.
Helen Moles, of Lippylicious Tea Room, and Rebecca Sedgewick of Anon Lingerie, both of Victoria Road, are helping to organise the event.
Helen said: “The businesses here in Elland are working together to get the whole community into the town centre and involved in what happens here.
“There’s a great selection of businesses here run by Elland people, we live and work here and there’s plenty going on.
“The paper chain was a way of getting every business working together and linked together, it’s massive and people have been creative in what they’ve used to create their link, from flyers to banners.”
The paper chain will be on display at the Berties Christmas event, as will the home-made efforts of the shopkeepers.
Helen added: “We know money is tight to we’re putting on a home-made Christmas event and I think a lot of people will take inspiration from it.”
There will be two floors of stalls inside Berties giving shoppers the chance to create a truly local Christmas. The children of Old Earth School choir and the Swing Of Things big band will perform.
Due to road surfacing work access to Bertie’s from Brighouse will be through Rastrick.
