FAMILIES will be given the chance to take part in the annual Christmas Lantern Parade at The Hive.

The Lantern Parade will commence at 6pm on Thursday, December 7 from the new Worcester Cathedral Square, where Worcestershire Youth Wind Orchestra will be playing festive music from 5.30pm before the parade makes its journey to The Hive for more live Christmas music from the Bewdley Concert Band.

Lantern workshops, for children to create their own cheerful lights to bring to the parade, were held last weekend and will be held again on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 at 11am and 1.30pm at The Hive. Large lanterns cost £4 to make and small ones are £2.50.

Also getting the festive season in swing will be Christmas storytelling with Rat-a-Tat Tales every Saturday at 11am and 2.45pm leading up to Christmas.

A full day of festivities is happening at The Hive on Saturday, December 9, with free Victorian Christmas Decoration Making from 10am to 3pm.

Rat-a-tat Tales, and two performances from Widdershins Theatre company with Three Billy Goats Gruff and Other Furry Tails at 12.45pm and 3pm. Tickets for the show cost £7 for adults and £3 for children.

Got 2 Sing Worcester Choir will be performing lively Christmas classics from 2 until 2.45pm, in between the Three Billy Goats Gruff shows.

Christmas crafts continue through December with pre-schooler fun on Thursday, December 7 and Thursday, December 21 at 10.30am – 12pm at The Hive with Christmas themed sessions by Young at Art for the under 5’s.

From Christmas Eve The Hive’s opening times will also change.

This year it will close on Christmas Eve and remain closed until Wednesday, December 27 when it will reopen from 8.30am to 7pm until Saturday, December 30.

It will close on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and reopen on Tuesday 2 January when it will return to its normal hours of operation, 8.30am to 10pm.

More information is available at thehiveworcester.org