04/12/2025
🎄Festival FAQs 2025🎄PLEASE READ 👇
We can’t wait to see you all over the next 4 days. But here’s a few reminders to keep it enjoyable for all.
Your friendly guide to a festive day out!🎅✨
Please take a look at these before messaging us directly. As you can imagine once the festival is in full swing, we won’t be on social a lot to answer questions, so please keep this in mind. We’ve tried to cover as many things we can think of, some based on previous years festival.
🚍 Getting to the Festival🚗
By Bus: You can catch the number 12 bus from Newport to Alum Bay. Check the Southern Vectis website for the latest timetable.
Parking: Parking is limited, but you can find spots at Warnes Lane Car Park, Brighstone Social Club (Reading Rooms), and The Methodist Church in Brighstone if you’re unable to walk far. Wherever you decide to park, please please please be considerate. We are incredibly grateful to the village community for their support during these 4 days, and this is only possible if visitors are respectful of this being their home.
If you are a coach please park at the Isle of Wight Pearl, and make use of the shuttle bus provided by FYT bus. Please also note that if you’re providing this as a commercial tour, you will need to be present. In previous feats we had coaches arrive with no one leading it. This is not only disruptive but potentially hazardous and it is not our role, we are focused on running a festival.
If you want to enjoy a leisurely and stress free visit at the weekend, try the FREE park-and-ride services offered by FYT Bus. This will run Saturday and Sunday only. They will also accept donations on board. The Three Bishops will be the starting point for these. Please refer to the signage for start times. This is a shuttle service and we are extremely grateful to the drivers who have volunteered, please be kind, always!
Opening hours:
Opening hours are 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30 and 3pm) at all venues in the village. Details can be found in the programme for a full list of activites.
Venues which may vary to this are Isle of Wight Pearl 10-last entry 3pm and closes at 4pm, the Three Bishops which will be open on their usual opening hours. For more remote venues better to arrive earlier in the day.
Village venues will close at 5pm sharp (unless we hear to the contrary of earlier close times- in which case we will update Facebook). Please do not turn up at 4.55pm and expect to spend an hour browsing trees. Equally we do not accept requests to open around your timetable (it happened last year 🤦🏼♀️). We are reliant on volunteers, so please be respectful of this.
If you wish to make use of the quieter hours, we recommend visiting 10am Thursday and Friday. Weekends are understandably busier. Please also note that Mottistone Church opens at 10.30am on Sunday 8th as Sunday service will be taking place.
📖 Festival Programme📚
The programme is available at multiple locations, including the Brighstone Village Shop, Tandem, Calon, The Three Bishops Pub, Reading rooms, Wilberforce Hall, St Mary’s, the library, the Methodist church, Isle of Wight Pearl and across multiple locations outside of the village.
🎄Venue locations 🎄
There are banners outside each venue to help you identify where trees are displayed.
There is a map 🗺️ in the programme to help guide you.
You can always ask a venue steward to direct you if you’re unsure.
Special thanks to A J Wells & Sons for printing the programmes.
♿ Accessibility
Wheelchair Access: All venues are accessible, but Mottistone has limited access. There is a small pull up space on the lane adjacent to the church, please use this respectfully.
Elf and Safety tips: Be careful of uneven surfaces and slippery areas, especially during this season. Please be aware that in order to show case the trees to their best, there may be low level lighting in some venues. Please take care. Please help keep our venues tidy by using the bins provided.
🚻 Toilets and First Aid ⛑️
Public toilets are available at Brighstone Car Park 🅿️
Toilets are available at the Isle of Wight Pearl, Wilberforce Hall, Methodist Church, Scout Hall (where refreshments and the craft stall are being held), Social Club (Reading rooms), St Mary’s and The Three Bishops (for customers).
If you need first aid, look for our first aiders or ask a steward for help. A first responder team member will be at St Mary’s in Brighstone, but will likely be doing a walkabout in the village across all venues. In an emergency 🚨 act as you would at any other time and call the emergency services.
🐾 Bringing Your Dog?
Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere (except the scout hall), and well-behaved dogs can join you on FYT buses and at venues. Please keep them on a lead and clean up after them. Please remember that on busier days, spaces can be crowded and not everyone loves our furry friends.
Please remember that this event is FREE, but we do rely on donations. We are also run entirely by volunteers and their kindness makes this festival what it is. 🌟✨
We look forward to welcoming you for a wonderful festive celebration!
🎄🎄
