IlluminAbbey light, music and entertainment spectacular during Christmas in Bury St Edmunds programme proves popular with tickets selling fast

About 1,000 tickets have been snapped up for a Christmas spectacle of light, music and live entertainment in Bury St Edmunds' Abbey Gardens.

IlluminAbbey, held after dusk from December 2 to 4, is part of the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds programme of events and is proving popular.

Starting at the Eastgate Nursery entrance, the 1km walking route will be illuminated to celebrate the gardens and Abbey ruins.

Along the way, there will be street theatre performances with light and sound from Corvus Angelicus, Juggling Inferno and drumming troupe Spark! with kaleidoscopic lighting.

Within just a week of being on sale, about 1,000 tickets have already been snapped up.

Pre-booking is essential as entry times will be staggered every 15 minutes between 4.30pm and 8.30pm to avoid over-crowding.

Visitors should allow 45 to 60 minutes to enjoy the event, which is a West Suffolk Council initiative for all the family.

Tickets are priced at £6 for adults, £4 for children (aged 4-16 years) and free for under 3 years.

To book online visit www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk/illuminabbey or call 01284 758000.

Tickets can also be bought in person at The Apex box office, in Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds.

The event is part of the wider Christmas in Bury St Edmunds initiative, which launches on Thursday, November 18 with the town's Christmas lights switch on.

From mid-November, the arc shopping centre will host a 20 to 25 minute experience including a trail, storytelling, a walk-through enchanted forest, Santa's toyshop and finishing in Santa's grotto.

A programme of music and carols will be held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral as well as, for the first time, a Christmas market in the nave from November 25 to 27.

Cllr John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We are pleased to be part of the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds programme, which has brought so many partners together to spread some yuletide cheer to our communities and businesses this rear.

"The Abbey Gardens are already spectacular but IlluminAbbey will bring them to a whole new level with so much going on. We hope people attending the event will also take the opportunity to visit our local businesses for their Christmas shopping and maybe for a drink and a bite to eat.

"This is part of West Suffolk’s role in supporting the local economy and helping businesses to have the strongest possible recovery while staying COVID-19 safe."

Visit www.burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk

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