Olde Hanwell Advent Windows 2022

It's time to get into the festive spirit again as we embark on our third year of Olde Hanwell Advent Windows.

The idea is to gradually light up Olde Hanwell throughout December with decorated windows. Each day, from 1st to 24th December, a new set of windows will be decorated and lit. Once revealed, the windows remain lit for the remainder of the period as new windows are revealed each night. The windows then form a festive trail for everyone to enjoy, bringing a bit of light and joy to our neighbourhood.

The theme, as always, is simply ‘Christmas’ and whatever this means to you - Christmas trees, candles, cotton-headed ninny muggins (!) - whatever makes a festive display. It's not a competition and we don't want people under pressure. It's a friendly and fun activity for us all to enjoy. Don't let it stress you out!

We don’t require great artists, just a bit of fun and light if possible. There are LOADs of examples online and plenty of inspiration. Please check out and follow @w7adventwindows on Instagram if you can. You could draw or stick directly onto windows; you could make a Christmas display or models out of cardboard or Lego or hang decorations in your window - whatever you feel.

The event is, of course, entirely free to enter and free for people to enjoy. You only need apply for a ticket if you are decorating a window. If you are just planning to visit - great - see you around in the next few weeks!

Below are a few FAQs to get you started. Please click to register and join us for what promises to be a bumper year. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Can't wait to get started!

Anna

What do I need to be involved?

• A window that can be clearly seen from the street without people coming onto your property – upstairs, downstairs, big, small, your choice

• To be happy to keep the window illuminated each evening (4.30pm-ish to 8.30pm-ish) after it has been ‘opened’ until after Christmas day.

How does it work again?

• Register to take part on Eventbrite. Tell me which day you would like to light up or I can give allocate a day between 1st to 24th December. You can then start preparing your window display.

• On your given day, put up your display, including some lights if possible so it can be seen at night (this could be backlit from your room or you could use fairy lights etc.). Please include your allocated number somewhere in your display as this makes it fun to spot and tick off on the trail. This could be the main feature of the display, or just a number in the corner.

• Switch on your window display at 4.30pm-ish on your allocated day and then every night thereafter, from 4.30pm until around 8.30pm every night, until after Christmas.

If I join in, will you tell everyone my address?

• No.

• We have an Instagram account @w7adventwindows and we would love you to share photos of the windows nightly. We will take photos ourselves and also ask you to send them for us to publish online. The reason for this is to share the festive spirit of Hanwell, to help publicise the event and maybe enter Christmas Community Competitions if we find any... In our first year we won £200 Garden Centre Vouchers in a National competition. The vouchers were donated to Katherine Buchan Meadow.

• We will only take pictures of your windows, not your whole house (unless your decorations cover your whole house!) and we will tell people your road name so they can look for your window on their walks. We won't tell anyone your address nor any other details we ask you for in the registration process.

Can I join in if I don't live in Olde Hanwell?

• Well, yes, why not! I live in Olde Hanwell which means I know the neighbourhood well and it is a nicely contained area to walk around and see the windows, BUT that doesn't mean other areas couldn't get involved too!

If you live outside of Olde Hanwell and would like to join in with this calendar, please contact Anna to help arrange a calendar on your road or neighbourhood. Or, alternatively, just go for it yourself!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Olde Hanwell, Olde Hanwell, London, United Kingdom