Living Advent Calendar - Henley-on-Thames

The Henley Living Advent Calendar is based on an original idea from Stockholm and began here in 2011. One of the first events of it's kind in the UK, and certainly the first locally, it runs every evening from December 1^st to 24^th. Like a children’s Advent Calendar, a different window or door is opened at 6:15pm promptly each evening and a 30 minute performance is given to the audience assembled. This can include songs, carols, music, poetry, book excerpts, notes from local history or folklore, sketches, dance etc, all with a Christmas or winter focus to them. Each Venue is matched, by the Organising Committee, with a local performer or group of performers and a collection is made, and Raffle tickets sold, every evening for selected local Charities.

Originally an initiative of the Henley Business Partnership, and still supported by The Henley Business Partnership and Henley Town Council, as a means of promoting the town as a winter destination for both locals and visitors from outside the town alike, it is project run buy the Henley Living Advent Calendar Trust since 2014 and brings together over 100 local business, organisations, charities and community groups each year for a fun 30 minute “surprise” performance over a tasty festive treat on each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas.

The Living Advent Calendar website – originally created and developed by Chris Wellings, Richard Young and Susan Butler is now managed and run by Richard Young with the help of Sue Butler. The graphic design is by Linda Layhe... and what a great job she has done! Collections will be made and raffle tickets sold, with monies being shared equally among our local good causes and charities.

Make sure you bookmark this site, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with news, and for photographs and videos of the event. The Henley Living Advent Calendar will again be a truly memorable series of events this December.