Entries are now open for the town’s annual Best Christmas Window competition. Judged by Mayor of Rugby Cllr Bill Lewis, we will be looking for the most creative displays so don’t hold back!
We will share images on our Facebook page until Saturday 14th December, when the winner and runner-up will be chosen by Cllr Lewis. Pictured are last year’s winners Abraxas Cookshop.
This year, the Christmas Lights will be switched on at 5pm, Sunday 17 November with an afternoon full of family entertainment.
| 1:50pm | Army Cadets Drummers |
| 2:05pm | Benn Hall Pantomime Cast |
| 2:35 pm | Revive Choir with the Salvation Army Band (TBC) |
| 3 pm | Rugby's Got Talent winner Paul Sammon |
| 3:30 pm | Germein |
| 4:05 pm | Mr Wilson's Second Liners |
| 5 pm | Countdown with the Mayor into lights switch-on followed by fireworks. |
Keep an eye on our Facebook page and the November e-news for more details on the Christmas window display competition, Santa’s Grotto and business promotions.
Making their debut in Rugby on Saturday 2 November, Tsuchigumo Daiko will be performing their breath-taking, high-energy, Taiko Drumming show.
Marvel at the thunderous, synchronised, rhythms in the evening performance at the Macready Theatre from 7.30 – 9pm.
With more than 2,000 years of history and presence in many aspects of Japanese culture, the Taiko is a philosophy of life, a martial art and an artistic discipline. Rugby is embracing Japanese culture during the Rugby World Cup 2019, in a three week fiesta of arts, culture, music and food to celebrate and honour the host nation, which will culminate in this show.
Tickets for the Taiko Drumming show are available to book on Eventbrite.
Our annual food festival is back and has all of the ingredients to make a great day out. Visitors will be able to stroll around a selection of food and drink stalls, visit the pop-up kitchen where a variety of lively cookery demonstrations will be taking place and see chef Kwoklyn Wan in action. We will be encouraging visitors to explore the town’s food and drink offer and highlighting menus and promotions that are on offer.
As the birthplace of rugby, the town will kick off the Rugby World Cup with Regent Street, Sheep Street and High Street being kitted out with an aerial display of decorated rugby balls. Along Sheep Street, High Street and Market Place there will also be a pavement trail of rugby ball graphics. Plus 20 businesses will have their windows dressed for the event to support the different countries taking part in the World Cup.
A packed events calendar of sport, arts and culture are planned throughout the games, culminating in a Japanese themed fireworks display and Taiko Drumming performance, which you can read more about here www.therugbytown.co.uk/celebraterugby
In recent times, Bikefest has become established as a key event in the Rugby town centre calendar. This year’s event took place on Sunday 19 May. One could describe it as another roaring success: that certainly describes the seldom-heard sound of hundreds of bikes during the ride-in. Onlookers watched and took photos and videos as scores and scores of motorbikes all types and ages came into town via Hillmorton Road.
The streets of the town centre filled up an impressive display of hundreds of bikes, stretching from the Webb Ellis statue all the way as far as Clifton Road. There was also an impressive selection of classic cars. Huge numbers of people arrived throughout the day to enjoy a fun, family-friendly event with live music on two stages, a wide selection of food and drink and much other entertainment.
Bikefest 2020 is already being planned. For a selection of photos from this year’s event, go to: therugbytown.co.uk/homepage/10019/rugby_bikefest