With December on the horizon, it's difficult to wait any longer without scratching that Christmas itch.

Thankfully, Reading has lots of events and opportunities to get into the Christmas spirit  this weekend and in the coming week.

1. Attend Newbury’s Christmas lights switch-on

Newbury is hosting a day-long event on Saturday, November 20, before switching on its Christmas lights.

Visit the town centre from 10am for 20 free festive activities including Join us from 10am to enjoy workshops, pop-up choirs, street entertainers, and live music before the big switch-on between 6pm-7pm in Market Place.

2. Be a Secret Santa 

This week saw the launch of Connect Reading’s 25th Giving Tree, where residents can buy a gift for someone supported by a charity.

CEO of Connect Reading Lorraine Briffitt said: “This time of year can be really difficult for a lot of people - in particular this year with the impact of the pandemic and cuts to Universal Credit there are many families who will be struggling day-to-day, let alone at Christmas time.

“The people of Reading always make us proud with their thoughtfulness and generosity and we’re so pleased this year to be able to give them both online and physical opportunities to donate to The Giving Tree.”

Gift tags which have requests from the charities are available on Giving Trees in The Oracle shopping centre near the information desk.

If you would like to get involved, you can choose a gift tag, buy a gift and then simply return the gift unwrapped to the information desk at The Oracle by December 15.

If you would like to donate online then funds will be used to buy gifts which go directly to a charity. 

3. Extended shopping hours

The Reading branch of Dobbies, a garden centre, is inviting shoppers to extended opening hours on Thursday, November 25 and to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Entrance to the evening, which lasts from 5pm to 9pm, costs £1 which will be donated to the charity.

The store will showcase its Christmas ranges and feature competitions, a raffle, discount vouchers, demos and sampling.

Senior relationship manager for Teenage Cancer Trust Donna Bednarek said: “We are absolutely delighted to collaborating with Dobbies as they stay open late.

“The donations from Dobbies’ customers will enable us to give the gift of care from our nurses, or the gift of community on one of our specialist units, to young cancer patients across the UK.”

4. Race to the North Pole

Get you and your friends’ snow boots on for The Race to the North Pole Challenge, where a team will complete 2,700 miles before Christmas to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer.

Whether you swim, walk, cycle, run or jog, teams are welcome to complete the distance however they like to try and raise £1 for every mile.

It costs £2,700 per night for all ten of the Young Lives vs Cancer Homes from Home to stay open.

Berkshire fundraising engagement manager at Young Lives vs Cancer Rose Bailey said: “What families have to go through is unimaginable and it’s so important to us all that we can provide vital support at such a harrowing time in their lives.

“We only have our Homes from Home thanks to the kindness of our supporters as we don’t receive any government support.

“By signing up to the North Pole Challenge, Berkshire residents will be able to help us continue to keep families together at the toughest of times.”

5. Drop off some toys for teens

Reading seems such an affluent town but it has some of the most deprived areas of the country. More than 10,000 children are living in poverty.

Reading Family Aid and the Toys and Teens Appeal is trying to raise enough money and collect enough toys and gifts so every Reading family has one present for each child.

They are running three pop-up donation points and on Saturday November 20, you can dop off new and ‘as new’ toys to the Woodley Town Centre Precinct, Headley Road, between 11am and 3pm.

A donation point will be available on Saturday, 27 November at the same time in Tesco Extra, Portman Road.

Or donate online via the hyperlink above.