Carol Singing – 17th December
inSwindon would like to thank everyone who braved the cold and snow for our carol singing by the tree at Wharf Green. The Salvation Army brought the festive cheer to Wharf Green by playing some traditional carols. Mulled wine and roasted chestnuts were made available for those that braved the cold.
Santa’s Grotto – 23rd November – 23rd December
Following our traditional Christmas theme, inSwindon worked in association with Debenhams to bring Santa back to Swindon. Santa’s Grotto was held in The Brunel and with help from House of Fraser, Santa was able to visit nearly 2000 children raising over £900.00 for BBC’s Children in Need. If you missed Santa this year, check back later for details of 2010’s Santa’s Grotto.
Please visit our gallery for pictures of Santa and the grotto.
Christmas Farmers’ Market – 11th December
The Wiltshire Farmers’ Market has returned to Swindon Town Centre. Featuring traders with fresh bread, fruit and vegetables and those tasty sweets, Wharf Green came to life with traders selling in our purpose built market square. The Wiltshire Farmers’ Market will return in 2010 with even more goods to sell.
Check back for future updates on markets and for live entertainment at Wharf Green.
Santa Dash – 6th December
On Sunday 6th December the town centre came to life with dashing Santa’s’. Hundreds took part in the charity in aid of Prospect Hospice.
Christmas Retro Fair – 28th November
Swindon’s Town Centre will became a Christmas Fantasy land when stalls from vintage comics, sweets and records to a host of Christmas stalls that made your Christmas present buying so much easier came together in the first annual event of it’s kind.
The day was full of surprise guests, TV and Film characters as we welcomed the seasonal spirit to the town centre.
With retro and traditional Christmas Food, music and entertainment as well as
fun for the kids.
Supporting Charlie Dawson’s wheelchair fund. Money made from putting on this event was donated to help get Charlie his wheelchair.
Christmas Light Switch On – 19th November
Following a successful Christmas Light Switch-on in 2008, inSwindon were busy planning to make 2009’s even better. With help from BBC Children in Needs’ Pudsey Bear, this was achieved. Pudsey was joined by his friends of Swindon including Rockin’ Robin, Willie Wildcat, Willy Wyvern, Alfie Aligator and the Speedway Rhino as well as the sporting stars of Swindon including Swindon Town’s manager Danny Wilson. With help from these stars and BBC Wiltshire’s Sandy Martin and SwindonWeb’s Kirsty Heber-Smith, a fantastic night of entertainment was made available to kick-start the launch of the Christmas activities and gives everyone the opportunity for some late night shopping.
The event was a great success with over 6000 people in attendance for the spectacular lights and fireworks display. 2009 saw the first Christmas tree at Wharf Green with over 7000 lights that really brought Wharf Green to life.
Now in 2010 inSwindon have already started for this years’ celebrations. Check back at a later date for more information.
Armistice Day Ceremony - 11th November
inSwindon held the second Armistice Day Ceremony in the town centre on Wednesday 11th November. This was to allow shoppers and retailers the opportunity to remember those lost at war. Many turned up for the occasion and inSwindon would like to thank the Normandy Veterans and Royal 21 Signal for their support in the event.
Passion for Fashion! - Wednesday 21 October 2009 – from 1.30pm
The Parade lined up a fabulous fashion-focused event early afternoon on 21 October in The Parade. They challenged fashion students at New College to a competition, to find the brightest fashion designer in town and celebrate their talent and innovative fashion style.
Computer Museum Gaming Day - 17th October
With use of the Big Screen, Wharf Green was brought to cyberspace with lots of gaming activity. The Computer Museum based in Regents Circus linked live with the big screen to allow the public to try out different games. There were stalls around the Wharf Green with different activities whilst those waited for their turn. Keep checking back for future events involving live interaction with the Big Screen.
Urban Dance - 27th September
Swindon Dance will be returned to Wharf Green between 12.00pm and 2.00pm to show off their skills and entertain the shoppers as they went about their day. The event was screened live onto the Big Screen.
Sustainable Swindon - 24th September
Pupils from Greendown Community School invited you to attend the premiere of their documentary "Outside In" at the BBC Big Screen, Wharf Green, Thursday 24 September, 12.30pm - 1.30pm.
They created a film that explores creating green spaces in urban environments such as the Town Centre. The project has been funded by The Brunel Shopping Centre in partnership with Create Studios and the Big Screen, Swindon.
Last Night of the Proms – 12th September
Live entertainment started at Wharf Green from 6.30pm with the Indigo String Quartet who played a range of music to help get the event underway. The event also featured the Swindon Scratch Choir who played a short ten minute performance minutes before the live link to the Royal Albert Hall at 7.30pm. Compere for the evening wass BBC Wiltshire's Ashley Heath.
For more information on Big Screen events please visit;
www.bigscreenswindon.co.uk
Animal Bike Tour - 5th September
The Animal Relentless Bike Tour returned to Wharf Green this summer with more stunt shows and opportunity for rider signings. Watch this space for pictures.
Boogie Nights - 24th August
The Wyvern Theatre are brought Boogie Nights to the town centre. On Monday 24th August talented young people aged between 9 and 21 recreated the heady days of the 70's in a taster session on
Boogie Nights in the town centre.With over 200 young people, this event really brought Wharf Green to life. Look out for future events with the Wyvern Theatre.
Street Surfing - 19th August
Street Surfing City Tour came to Wharf Green on the 19th August. The purpose was to encourage more children to get involved in sport. Streetsurfing is a board sport that is a combination of snowboarding, surfing and skate boarding. This is a new inflatable arena and can teach up to 300 people in one day.
Tweenies - Saturday 15th August
Jake and Fizz from the Tweenies dropped by Swindon to say hello to the shoppers in the town centre.
The Tweenies came to visit Swindon on Saturday 15th August to say hello to shoppers as they went by their daily routine. Jake and Fizz were at The Brunel and put smiles on everyone’s faces as they walked by. The Brunel have more Fun at the Fair activities happening on Saturday 22nd August as well as Sportacus from the children’s hit TV show Lazytown who will be visiting on Saturday 29th August.
Photo of Jake and Fizz taken by Swindon Advertiser.
BBC Dig In – 31st July – 2nd August
Launching on Gardener’s World and CBeebies in April 2009, Dig In showed first timers that they can grow and cook their own grub anywhere, whether they’ve got an allotment, garden, window box or yoghurt pot. Free seed starter packs were provided through a variety of platforms to encourage even the staunchest gardening-phobes to have a go.
Swindon Shuffle - 8th August
The Swindon Shuffle is came to Wharf Green with the first live BBC introducing stage in the town centre. This was the only free Swindon Shuffle event that catered for all ages.
Golf British Open - 16th - 19th July
This year was the 138th British Open Championship from Turnberry and was screened live onto the Big Screen at Wharf Green.
Barber of Seville – 15th July
The Royal Opera House Barber of Seville came to Swindon's Big Screen at Wharf Green on Wednesday 15th July. As part of the BP Summer Big Screen Programme, the Big Screen Wharf Green linked up with the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden to bring an exclusive live performance of Rossini's comedy opera, ll Barbiere di Siviglia. Over 300 people came along and brought their picnics to enjoy the show.
Live action started at Wharf Green with Swindon Stage Coach performing live Michael Jackson's hit Man in the Mirror as well as an Abba remix. This was followed by Wantage Stage Coach with renditions from Little Shock of Horrors and Les Miserables.
At 7.20pm Wharf Green went live with Covent Garden for the opening of Barber of Seville.
Images to follow soon.
Wimbledon – 29th June – 5th July
Wimbledon came to Wharf Green this year with strawberries and cream and live tennis on the Big Screen. The weekend started with Next Generation providing tennis coaching to year two pupils of Warnborough Primary School on the Friday. The children were taught how to control the ball and the different ways of hitting the ball.
During the finals weekend chairs were available at Wharf Green for shoppers to come by and relax watching the tennis with strawberries and cream and milkshakes available throughout the day. Although Andy Murray may not have made the final, shoppers of Swindon were still able to enjoy a very exciting final.
inSwindon would like to thank Shake Away for their help with the event with providing refreshments throughout the weekend.
Town Centre 
