What’s On This Weekend: From Wonderland To Winterland

It’s a proud week for Culture Vultures. On Friday, Merton hands in its bid to be London’s first ever Borough of Culture. We’re up against stiff opposition from the likes of Southwark, and we may not be the bookies’ favourite, but this vulture is keeping all wing-feathers and claws crossed. Join the #MertonCulture thunderclap and keep using the hashtag on your social media posts during the three months of judging.

But we don’t have to wait until 2019, as two very exciting things are happening on Friday night. Firstly, the Sound Lounge live music venue, arts centre and vegan cafe is popping up in the old Fatface shop on Wimbledon Broadway. Chased from its base in Tooting by property developers, it’s a crowd-funded, community enterprise run by Hannah and Kieron, two musicians with a track record of booking excellent British and US recording artists. Quaff a pint of Wimbledon Brewery beer or a tot of Graveney gin as you listen.

Secondly, if you go down to the Centre Court car park, you’re in for a big surprise. At 7pm the first door opens on Wimbledon’s unique live Advent calendar, with professional performers waiting behind it to entertain you. Take a folding chair, as you’re in for a zany take on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by all male troupe The Handlebards. Keep an eye on the Bobblehat website, as another door opens every day with something new behind it.

On Sunday, Wimbledon does Christmas. From noon till 6pm the centre of town is taken over by Love Wimbledon’s Winter Wonderland, with its Christmas market, street food, fairground rides,  ice carving, snowdome photobooth, street food, stiltwalkers, Amy the sheep, Christmas lights switch on followed by fireworks at 5.30pm, and probably a whole lot more. Meanwhile, at the top of Wimbledon hill, it’s Christmas in the Village. There’s a fairground, face-painting, pony rides, a treasure hunt, and Santa’s grotto at the Dog & Fox from 10am. Father Christmas rides through the streets on his sleigh at 1.30pm and at 4.30pm the village’s Christmas lights are switched on.

I had the fun of interviewing the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts this week, from the big Christmas theatre show that opens next Thursday: Alice in Winterland, a new adaptation from Lewis Carroll’s much loved books. I hear the Rose Theatre in Kingston has thrown the kitchen sink at creating a dazzling spectacle, which stars talented local children as well as pro actors. There’s an exciting battle sequence, and a duel between Alice armed with broadsword and the Queen with a mace. Raad my preview here.

This only covers the main points of what’s going on in an amazing week for Merton life. Here are some other highlights for your diary:

• Morden Christmas lights switch on at a Crown Lane street party from 4pm Friday;
• Raynes Park Christmas Festival begins 3.30pm Friday, with lights switch on at 5pm;
• Christmas craft fair at the Rangers’ Office on Wimbledon Common from 11am Saturday;
• Laughing Boy comedy club at New Wimbledon Theatre Studio, 8pm Friday;
• Wimbledon Guild Carol Service at St Mark’s Church at 6pm, December 7.