On Saturday, November 29, the historic Northampton & County Club transforms into a time-travelling festive portal for the second immersive Merry Festive Forties Christmas—a gloriously nostalgic day that promises to delight.
From 10.30am to 5pm, the Home Front springs to life. The Home Guard will be patrolling with wartime displays, demonstrating Morse code like your life depends on it (and in the 1940s, it very well might!).
Step into our Home Front Christmas and Family War scenes to discover how families conjured magic from ration books, mended what couldn’t be replaced, and always found a reason to smile. Peek into “Entertainment at Home” to see how wireless broadcasts and good old creativity kept spirits dancing—no streaming subscriptions required.
Our wartime leading ladies take centre stage this year: the CWAC Canadian Women’s Army Corps, WAAF on Tour, ATS, and WVS. Meet the formidable, fabulous women who rolled up their sleeves and kept the country going while the world spun wildly around them.
And now… the entertainment. Buckle up.
The enchanting Miss Lily Lovejoy will serenade you with vintage sparkle, while the fabulous Jilly pops up throughout the day with quips, charm, and musical magic. Add in the stunning Sophie Songbird, the ever-smooth Beau Norton, and the toe-tapping brilliance of swing trumpeter Stefan Dicks, and you’ve got a line-up strong enough to lift the blackout.
Feeling the rhythm? The Swingsters will guide even the most rhythmically challenged through a 1940s dance or two. And if you need a little courage, we’ll be serving authentic 1940s-style treats in the tearoom—along with that most heroic of wartime beverages: warm beer. Yes, you read that right. Warm. Beer. You’re welcome.
Kids can dive into old-school Christmas crafting (no batteries, Wi-Fi or screen time required), while shoppers rummage through a delightful selection of vintage traders offering 1940s clothing, accessories, and one-of-a-kind Christmas presents you definitely won’t find online.
Event reenactor Shirley Rees captures the heart of it all: “Get ready to transport back to a time when family, community, and the true meaning of Christmas mattered—while recognising the true heroes.”
This isn’t a standard Christmas event.
It’s a festive rebellion.
A nostalgic nudge.
A reminder that joy doesn’t need to flash, beep, or arrive next-day delivery.
So don’t just scroll past—join us.
Step back in time. Fill your day with music, laughter, history, and heart.
Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your best 1940s swagger.
Let’s make Christmas magic the old-fashioned way.
Doors open: 10.30am – 5pm.
Admission: £5 (children go free).
4. Contributed
Our wartime leading ladies take centre stage this year: the CWAC Canadian Women’s Army Corps, WAAF on Tour, ATS, and WVS. Photo: Submitted