“So much love is going into this event,” said Heidi Early, Chair of Stoke Newington Business Association.  “The Winter Toy Appeal so perfectly captures the community spirit here in Stokey and, to mark its 10th anniversary, it feels entirely fitting as businesses to lay on a magical day for families.”

 

The trail starts at Stoke Newington’s Farmers Market, where there’ll be mulled pear juice, festive stalls, wand-making and carol singers and giant illuminated stars by Output Arts. It continues down the High St and Church St, with children encouraged to look out for the wish-fairy’s trademark wands in shop windows and collect stickers on their trail-maps from participating stores. 

 

The Fire Station hope to have a fire engine out for the event and Output Arts are working with local schools to decorate Stokey’s big Christmas tree as well as local parklets.

 

There’ll be special activities along the way and Location Location estate agency are throwing their annual party for families at The Old Church with live music, wand-making, mulled wine for parents and more.  There’ll be illuminated cubes in the grounds of The Old Church.

 

Heidi added: “We hope locals and visitors will make a whole day of it and enjoy special meals at our brilliant restaurants and pubs. It’s worth booking a table early to avoid disappointment.”

 

The Winter Toy Appeal was launched by husband-and-wife team Basil and Jenna Fansa of the Local Buyers Club after the birth of their first child. It’s run in partnership with Location Location and each year provides new toys for more than 5,000 children in extreme poverty in London.  Toys are distributed by councils, refuges, children’s centres and schools to children who would otherwise be unlikely to receive a gift.

 

Jenna said: “Stoke Newington’s businesses have been such a huge part of the toy appeal from the beginning – helping spread the word, donating and collecting toys for us and sourcing brilliant toys for us to purchase. It’s wonderful of them to be marking the Appeal’s 10th anniversary with a Christmas event that thanks the community for their kindness, while offering really fun activities for families.”

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What's happening - where and when. 

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Growing Communities Farmers Market / St Pauls Church:

12pm-2pm. Make a star wand with Output Arts (free). 
10am-2.30pm. Mulled pear juice and festive nibbles
11am. Carols with Hackney Song Works Choir

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The Old Church 

12-3pm. Children’s party, hosted by Location Location. Including star wand making. Free tickets via eventbrite.

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Rouge

2-3pm Papercraft - Christmas Card Making (free).

 

Kindhaus

2-5pm  Santas Grotto -  free tickets via eventbrite

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Throughout the day

*  The Fire Engines will be out on display throughout the day (unless called out on emergency)

*  Look out for the wish-fairy’s trademark wands in shop windows and collect stickers on your trail-map from participating         stores. 

*  Earlybird card shop - festive lucky dip

*  Hub - festive decorating

*  Prep - Prosecco, mulled wine, festive treats

*  The Spence Bakery - Kids treat bags and festive drinks

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Parklets decorated:

*  Woodlea Road (Spence) – Attenborough class at St Mary’s C of E Primary School

*  Yoakley Road (n. family club) – Simmonds class at St Mary’s C of E Primary School

*  Bouverie Road (Clarence) – Class 4S at Shacklewell Primary School

*  Lancell Street (Hub) – Class 4W at Shacklewell Primary School

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