For the first time ever, Mill Hill Broadway introduced a Christmas Market.

It ran from 24th - 26th November. The market stalls showcased local produce such as mulled wine and mince pies. The aromatic smells and feels of Christmas radiated from the market.

The festive glow of the season illuminated, the warmness of the baked goods and the smiles from the passers-by covered in coats and scarves, to me, epitomised Christmas. Delicious food was available from the Adam and Eve pub stall, where people could taste food from one of our best restaurants in Mill Hill. The market also featured live music, which further light up the spirit of Mill Hill Broadway. Stalls were selling cook books too- Perfect Christmas presents, or alternatively, I am sure they were great for improving cooking before Christmas. The Christmas market also featured real life reindeers as well as a Mill Hill drum band parade!

The beautifully decorated stalls emitted a homely, exciting, joyful and merry spirit. It reminded me of the joy that Christmas can bring. The Christmas market brought together all different people who celebrate Christmas in all different ways. Christmas is a universal celebration, it is the festival of light and love and family. And this market combined all of these values into one.

Christmas is a time to indulge is delicious goods. It is a time to be merry and cheerful with all that life throws at you. It is a time to love and be loved. And it is a time to embrace the warm and comforting feeling that many of us feel about Christmas, but we cannot quite put it in to words.

This Christmas Market truly lit up the heart of Mill Hill. Mill Hill Broadway is a place of unity and community, and The Mill Hill Neighbourhood Forum are a group of 30 representatives who all have a passion for Mill Hill and have set up a series of initiatives, including Mill Hill Markets: which have combined the values of: culture, spirit, community and good food !

John Gillet, chair of Mill Hill Neighbourhood Forum, described the Christmas market on the Broadway as ‘just one of the many initiatives we have for Mill Hill to improve its Town Centre’ Reflecting on the festive build up to Christmas, The Mill Hill Christmas market definitely made me feel excited about Christmas and certainly captured the merry spirit of the holiday season in the fullest way possible.

By Talia Fenton, JCoSS