Christmas arrives early in Tidworth with charity shopping fair
A former Britain's Got Talent winner is opening the event
Last updated 28th Sep 2021
The Early Early Christmas Fair, which raises money for ABF The Soldier's Charity, returns in person today (27th September).
The popular event, which takes place on the Tedworth Polo fields in Tidworth, was held virtually last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chelsea Pensioner and the winner of Britain's Got Talent in 2019, Colin Thackery, will officially cut the ribbon.
It's open today and tomorrow before moving online from Thursday (30th) until the 1st of January 2022.
It gives small businesses a chance to show off their products ahead of the Christmas rush, while also raising money for ABF The Soldier's Charity.
In 2019 they raised around £38,000 with last year's virtual event topping more than £40,000.
Organiser Caroline Cary told Greatest Hits Radio:
"I'm excited, I think everyone is dying to be together again and just be able to see things and touch things, shopping online is fun too but actually it's lovely to be able to talk to small businesses because they are such a fundamental part to the Early, Early Christmas Fair.
Soldiers are for life, they're there forever and they're having to step in and help us with a problem now and it doesn't get less it only gets more, all those that are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's still massively, massively important that we are raising as much money as possible and we so need every penny that we can get."
10% of everything that is sold at the event goes to the charity.
Opening times and details of tickets can be found on the fair's website - www.eecfair.org.uk