Senior residents invited to apply to attend Christmas Cheer receptions

The annual receptions for residents aged 65 and over will take place on Tuesday 3 December 2024, when a spread of tasty Christmas fare will be served and a feast of musical entertainment can be enjoyed.

Eligible residents can choose to attend either the morning event at 10am, or in the afternoon at 2pm:

• In the morning, guests can enjoy a children’s choir from Clifton Green Primary School and by the renowned Shepherd Brass Band.
• In the afternoon, the children’s voices will be from Lord Deramore’s Primary School, and York’s well-loved Philharmonic Male Voice Choir will be entertaining guests.

As part of Christmas Cheer, a raffle will take place. Any local businesses are invited to kindly donate prizes, please email civic@york.gov.uk before Monday 25 November if you would like to donate or find out more.

The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Margaret Wells, said: “For the civic party, our Christmas Cheer Receptions mark the start of our Christmas celebrations. And for many of our older residents it is one of the highlights of the season.

“I am grateful that so many people and organisations from across York recognise its importance and are supporting it.

“I am looking forward to it. We will have an amazing time with festive music from our choirs and musicians, tasty Christmas food and of course a raffle. I really can’t think of a better way to start off the festive season.

“If you’re eligible and free on 3 December, please apply to join us and enjoy this wonderful Christmas celebration.”

200 people can attend each reception and applicants can specify if they would prefer to go to the morning or afternoon events.

To attend either of the receptions, please complete an application form. Paper copies can be picked up from the council’s Customer Centre at West Offices, or from any York library, or please request a form online by emailing civic@york.gov.uk.

All completed paper application forms should be dropped off or mailed to: ‘The Christmas Cheer Draw’, c/o Civic Services, West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA – to arrive no later than 5pm on Monday 25 November 2024. Completed online forms should be emailed back to civic@york.gov.uk also by 5pm on Monday 25 November.

Names will be drawn at random and those chosen will be a sent a ticket for one of the sessions. The organisers will do their best to match first choices, depending on the number of applications received.