Festive Magic Returns as Santa's Sleigh Expands Its Reach
The familiar sound of Christmas bells will echo through the streets of Kinver and surrounding villages next month as Santa's sleigh makes its annual appearance, this year reaching more children than ever before. Thanks to an army of volunteers who answered the call for help, The Rotary Club of Kinver has been able to expand its traditional route to include new housing developments.
Community Spirit Ensures Christmas Cheer Spreads Wider
More than 60 volunteers have joined forces with Kinver Rotarians to ensure the charity sleigh can cover both its regular routes and new areas. The initiative, which has raised more than £150,000 since 1986, will this year visit Kinver, Enville, Stourton and parts of Wollaston and Wall Heath throughout December.
Roy Sanders, a Kinver Rotarian who has played a leading role in the sleigh project for many years, expressed his delight at the community response. "Volunteer non-Rotary members have featured in the sleigh celebrations for many years and they are needed more than ever this year," he said. "New housing developments in and around the village have led to the club rethinking the organisation of its Christmas sleigh charity collections."
The expanded operation means the sleigh will now visit all the regular routes plus five primary schools, bringing Christmas excitement to both young and old across the community.
Festive Schedule Packed with Community Events
The sleigh's Christmas journey begins even before the house-to-house collections start. It will feature prominently in several community events including:
- Kinver's late night shopping on Saturday, November 29th
- Mary Stevens Hospice Santa jog on Sunday, December 7th
- Enville Christmas lights switch-on later on December 7th
- Surprise visits to five primary schools during the following week
Kinver Rotary Club President Graham Smith highlighted the significance of including new housing estates. "We are delighted that we have been able to incorporate the new housing developments around the village, giving even more families than ever the opportunity to enjoy a pre-Christmas visit to their homes by Santa," he said.
The Rotary Club has planned a thank you evening for volunteers on February 26th to acknowledge their crucial contribution to making this year's expanded operation possible.
Complete Route Schedule for December 2025
Residents can look forward to Santa's visits during the following dates and locations (operating between 6pm-9pm and 9am-5pm):
- Monday, December 8th: Kinver – Dark Lane and Dunsley
- Tuesday, December 9th: Wollaston - Somerset Drive, Richmond Grove, Gerald Road
- Wednesday, December 10th: Kinver – White Hill, Meddins Lane, Edge View Walk
- Thursday, December 11th: Wall Heath – Millers Green Drive, Windmill Grove
- Friday, December 12th: Stourton/Kinver – Prestwood House, Stewponey, Stourton Crescent, Kinver High Street
- Monday, December 15th: Wollaston – Richardson Drive, Doulton Brook, High Street
- Tuesday, December 16th: Stourton/Wollaston – Hyperion Road, Ridgewood Avenue, Eggington Road
- Wednesday, December 17th: Kinver/Enville – Hyde Lane (Kinver), Enville
- Thursday, December 18th: Wollaston – Belfrey Drive, Wolverley Ave, Wollaston Court
- Friday, December 19th: Kinver – Stone Lane, Church View Gardens
The expanded Santa sleigh tour represents forty years of successful community fundraising for the Rotary Club of Kinver, demonstrating how volunteer power can help traditional events grow and adapt to serve changing communities.
