It’s nearly Christmas time, so get ready for mistletoe and wine (and silly seasonal puns) with Seventhsister’s 12 seasonal things to do over the festive season. But first, enjoy this little festive message from Tottenham star footballers Harry Kane and Josh Onomah:
Yes, as the boys say in a style that makes it unlikely that either of them are considering a career in punditry post-football, it’s Small Business Saturday this week, so remember to buy local. That and maybe emote a bit if you ever end up in front of an autocue.
1. Get festive at the Tottenham Winter Festival
Tottenham Green plays host to Tottenham Winter Festival
The ever popular Tottenham Green Market plays host again this year to the Tottenham Winter Festival. Stock up at the Christmas food stalls, pick out unique gifts or just come down for a glass of mulled wine (or a Tottenham beer) and the best street food in Haringey.
There’s a packed line up of live music on the stage and Tottenham Hotspur Juniors will be on hand to keep the kids entertained with football challenges. With its own Christmas lights switch on, what better way to start the festive season?
2. Grab a great Xmas gift at Tottenham’s Artisan Market
We hyped the launch of this and we’re going to keep on keeping on about this excellent new local market for people who want to buy something more creative than a fancy burger.
Artisan Markets is the brainchild of local man Franklin Boateng, a social media pro who’s even done his own TED talk. He also sat down with Seventhsister recently for an exclusive interview.
But Tottenham Artisan Markets is his new venture – one he hopes will allow local independent creative types to sell their own produce. So that means cheap stalls for local artisan goods makers and a great chance for you to buy a unique Christmas gift or two for your festive shopping list.
3. Hear local young people making quality music
Kay_Dogz: a member of the Generation Uncovered co-operative
Generation Uncovered are a local youth-led cooperative who aim to “disrupt the barriers that make young people feel like they can’t participate in civic society”, channelling their energy into creativity and working for positive social change.
S.Q.U.A.S.H will showcase the talents of some great local artists. So go along and show your support for this fantastic initiative. Who knows, perhaps you’ll be getting a sneak preview of the next Mercury Prize winner?
4. Work off those festive tensions by rocking out hard
Christmas at T Chances
There is surely no better time than Christmas to unleash your inner punk spirit animal. Get rid of the tension of the festive season at T Chances with a night of punk, ska and rock and roll.
Acts include London based Eat The Evidence, who combine skank and storytelling in an energetic set that veers from the political to the puerile. They will be joined by Hackney’s Victor Menace, whose self-described and infectious ‘Ninja Folk’ sound of fiddles, horns and guitars is guaranteed to get you moving, as are rock and roll trio Shaking Bones and Southampton ska punks The Bobonboboffs.
There will also be face painting from the self-described “world’s worst face painting company” and you’re encouraged to dress in your best animal outfit. There’s no choice then but to release your inner beast and let the music take control.
5. More present-buying opportunities for seasonal Santas at The Winter Fair
Here’s a chance to bag some Christmas presents whilst perfecting your artistic skills. The Winter Fair at the Hub will feature a variety of stalls selling anything from handmade crafts to treats and healthy products.
Plus if you’re feeling inspired, you can try and make your own stocking-filler in one of the workshops for adults and children organised by the Women’s Association of Lordship Rec.
Be there for 3pm when they will announce the winners of the gingerbread house-making competition – buy your kit from the Hub café for £3.50 from December 1st to take part in this delicious bake off.
6. Be of good cheer with Handel’s Messiah and Beauty and the Beast
It wouldn’t be Christmas without the Messiah. Tottenham’s celebrated local choir, the New Tottenham Singers, are sound tracking the season at St Mary’s Church on December 10th.
The concert with chorus and orchestra will feature traditional carols and festive favourites alongside extracts from Handel’s masterpiece. Being a mix of traditional and contemporary, they’re also offering a musical medley from Beauty and the Beast. Led by musical director and Tottenham resident Tom Fowkes, the 60-strong ensemble describes itself as singing “a mixture of musical theatre, traditional choral music, popular song and everything in- between!”
The New Tottenham Singers will also perform at: Tottenham Ploughman WinterFest, Sunday December 11 at 3pm, Bruce Castle Museum, N17 8NU Smooth Jazz Lounge Wednesday December 14, Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham Green, London N15 4RX
7. Christmas Caroling
St Benet Fink in Tottenham
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a traditional carol concert and St Benet Fink church in Tottenham has tradition in spades. The professional choir at their ‘Christmas Star’ carols will give you a good excuse to sing along at the tops of your voices to all the old favourites. The mulled wine afterwards won’t hurt either.
8. Top ranking steel band action from Pan Nation
Pan Nation steel band’s winter concert
Tottenham’s finest steel band Pan Nation will be hosting their annual winter concert, filling the air with the sweet sound of steel pans and helping us forget the biting cold for a few hours.
Having sold out their 2015 concert, Pan Nation has moved to a larger venue, where there will be food, drinks and a raffle on the night, alongside a packed programme of music.
All profits from the night will go towards the band’s 2017 fundraising target of £7000, to help them buy new instruments and pay the rent for their space.
9. Discover what’s being produced on your doorstep
Quirk and Foible is a Tottenham based designer and maker of stationary, gift boxes, cards
Foodies and arts and crafts lovers will be in Christmas heaven at the Tottenham Ploughman Winterfest at Bruce Castle. With a dazzling array of Haringey produced food and craft stalls, your Christmas list will be sorted. Pick from a huge selection including ceramics, handmade lighting, textiles and artworks.
Plus your stomach will be kept happy with local culinary creations ranging from Japanese flavours to handcrafted bottled cocktails.
Meanwhile your ears will be entertained in the music room with jazz, folk, and the annual carol sing along with The New Tottenham Singers. There’s even a 1920s inspired mobile cinema showing films from across London.
10. Xmas quizzing at Tottenham’s community owned pub
Christmas Quizzing at The Antwerp Arms
This regular pub quiz hosts its biggest prize pot of the year, with a £100 cash pot to be won. Join hosts Dave and Richard for some festive brainteasers from 8pm, washed down with a fine range of beers from local breweries Redemption and Beavertown.
The community-owned pub will also be hosting a beer tasting from Kent-based Westerham Brewery from 7pm, plus there will be nibbles for the quizzers throughout the evening.
11. On the fourth day of Christmas, punk bands round the tree
The end of the month sees T Chances hold their end of the year punk show, with German hardcore (and hard drinking) punks Scheisse Minnelli heading from Frankfurt.
Other acts include London’s aggressive yet melodically old school Left for Dead and politically conscious Criminal Mind while Hardcore punk band DTA round out the bill, for your last chance this year to get punk in public.
12. It’s a local New Year’s Eve, for local people (in a local pub)
Stay local at The Beehive on New Year’s Eve
It wouldn’t be a festive round-up unless we gave you a New Year’s Eve option, so here it is: Tottenham’s favourite local boozer, The Beehive, is open until 3am. Expect all the comforts you usually find – craft ale, good eats and friendlier service than you’ll get in town.
Plus as it’s NYE there’ll be DJs from 9pm and the pub promises confetti cannons too. Nope, we don’t know how they’re going to do that either, but it’ll certainly be fun finding out.