The Brightlingsea Christmas Lights Trail is now open for entries! Following on from the success of last month's Pumpkin Trail, we've joined forces with the organisers of the Brightlingsea Christmas Tree Festival to help Brightlingsea make the most of the festive period despite Covid-19.

We want to make a trail of Christmas lights from All Saints' Church to the Town Hard with illuminated Christmas trees, decorated windows, flashing Santas and spectacular snowmen – whatever sort of festive lights you have, get them up, be a part of the trail and help brighten up the town! The main events will run over the weekends of December 12 & 13  and December 19 & 20 – but you can start adding your address to our Christmas Lights Trail page now, ready for the list of entries and the Trail map to be unveiled on December 1.

The main Trail will start at All Saints' with a display in the churchyard, taking in the lights in shops around the High Street and Victoria Place, ending at the Hard where you'll find even more specially-made illuminations. In between the church and the Hard you'll be able to plan your own route to take in the lights of Brightlingsea residents, too!

And if you're missing the usual Christmas Tree Festival and the decorated trees you can still see them here on Brightlingsea Info – and take part in our Virtual Festival competition. We've moved the usual competition online – find out more and enter your trees here. The online festival is helping to raise funds for the redevelopment work at All Saints' Church .