Skip to main contentEnter
Purposeful journalism for people who care about our town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our journalism
News

The Very Suffolk Christmas festival is coming to Ipswich town centre – here's what you need to know

A new Christmas festival celebrating Suffolk culture will take over Ipswich's Cornhill later this month, featuring local food, crafts and a tractor trail – all while raising money for mental health.

Why it matters: The event, organised by Ipswich Central, will showcase the best of Suffolk's county town while supporting Suffolk Mind, a local mental health charity, through voluntary donations at a time when mental health support is described as "more crucial than ever."

Lee Walker and Jon Neal in front of the Christmas tree on the Cornhill
Ipswich Central
A Very Suffolk Christmas will feature local food, crafts and a tractor trail

The details: The "A Very Suffolk Christmas" celebration runs from 12pm to 6pm on Saturday 14 December.

  • Event features local food producers, artisan crafts and performances by Suffolk musicians

  • Free activities include wreath-making workshops and a Letters to Santa station

  • Tractor trail around town celebrates county's rural heritage

  • All performers are donating their time to support Suffolk Mind

What they're saying: "Ipswich is proud to be Suffolk's County town, and this event is about celebrating everything that makes the town great," says Lee Walker, CEO of organisers Ipswich Central.

Jon Neal, CEO of Suffolk Mind, adds: "Events like 'A Very Suffolk Christmas' foster a sense of connection and community, paramount to mental well-being – especially during the colder, darker winter months when many feel isolated."

A Very Suffolk Christmas

Celebrate everything that makes Suffolk special at this festive town centre event that puts our county's culture, heritage and community spirit centre stage.

  • Christmas
  • 14 December
  • 12:00-18:00
Lee Walker and Jon Neal in front of the Christmas tree on the Cornhill

The bottom line: Instead of charging for activities, visitors will be encouraged to support Suffolk Mind through QR code donations displayed around the event.

Our content is free to read thanks to the generous support of Kingsfleet, Upside Finance and Ipswich Sports Club

The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near Ipswich

Spend your time and money as you wish

Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
Farida Rouane of Upside Finance

Improve your financial wellbeing

Based in Ipswich, Upside Finance provides expert mortgage, insurance and pensions advice, with a focus on making financial services accessible and straightforward.
Mark Petchey giving a coaching masterclass at Ipswich Sports Club

Ipswich Sports Club

Ipswich Sports Club is one of Suffolk’s leading independent, competitive racket sports and hockey clubs, with a rich history spanning over a century.
News

SEN Santa sessions at Buttermarket this weekend

Santa will turn down the music and limit numbers at the Buttermarket Shopping Centre this weekend after parents asked for calmer festive events for children with special educational needs (SEN).
by
Continue reading →
News

Suffolk researchers test whether singing can treat Parkinson's 'poker face'

Researchers in Suffolk are launching what they believe is the first UK study testing whether musical-theatre-style singing can rehabilitate facial expression in Parkinson's patients – addressing a symptom that affects around 9 in 10 people but has limited treatment options.
by
Continue reading →
News

Woman fighting for life after hit-and-run on Burrell Road

A woman is in a life-threatening condition in hospital after being hit by a car whose driver fled the scene on Burrell Road in Ipswich this morning, with a man in his 30s now arrested in connection with the incident.
by
Continue reading →

Kingsfleet, Upside Finance and Ipswich Sports Club

The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near Ipswich

Spend your time and money as you wish

Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
Farida Rouane of Upside Finance

Improve your financial wellbeing

Based in Ipswich, Upside Finance provides expert mortgage, insurance and pensions advice, with a focus on making financial services accessible and straightforward.
Mark Petchey giving a coaching masterclass at Ipswich Sports Club

Ipswich Sports Club

Ipswich Sports Club is one of Suffolk’s leading independent, competitive racket sports and hockey clubs, with a rich history spanning over a century.
News

Gym manager's childhood inspires hospital toy appeal

A Martlesham gym manager who spent much of her childhood in hospital has launched a toy appeal that has collected nearly 150 Christmas gifts for young patients at Ipswich Hospital.
by
Continue reading →

Kingsfleet, Upside Finance and Ipswich Sports Club

The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near Ipswich

Spend your time and money as you wish

Award winning, independent financial planners helping the people of Suffolk reach their financial objectives.
Farida Rouane of Upside Finance

Improve your financial wellbeing

Based in Ipswich, Upside Finance provides expert mortgage, insurance and pensions advice, with a focus on making financial services accessible and straightforward.
Mark Petchey giving a coaching masterclass at Ipswich Sports Club

Ipswich Sports Club

Ipswich Sports Club is one of Suffolk’s leading independent, competitive racket sports and hockey clubs, with a rich history spanning over a century.
News

Police appeal for witnesses after Pearl Road burglary

Detectives are investigating a burglary at a home on Pearl Road in Ipswich on Monday evening, where jewellery and bank cards were stolen and used fraudulently.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
Our content is free to read thanks to
Our content is free to read thanks to
Our content is free to read thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
6,630+ people are already loving it