A brief visit, but so worthwhile!
We took two of our children to the Music House Christmas Special, and it was magical from start to finish. The place was absolutely packed, buzzing with excitement as people gathered to hear a variety of talented musicians take the stage. Among them were the ever-cool Solar Jets and Carmen Brown, a young girl with the most angelic voice I’ve ever heard.
To escape the chill outside, we spent some time exploring the Mahogany Market stalls. It was there I found the most exquisite Christmas angel, handcrafted from straw. It came from a charity called Sew UK—Sustainably Empowering Women— a remarkable organization helping women in Uganda start their own businesses. The lady who created it was so passionate, sharing stories about the lives her charity has changed and the communities they’re building. It was inspiring to see kindness in action.
Of course, no Christmas outing is complete without a little indulgence. One of the highlights of the day was the chocolate fondue from Rae of Sunshine Events. Fresh strawberries and bananas dipped into warm, melted chocolate—perfection.
And then there was Rasta Claus.
This unforgettable character was dressed to impress in a thick, festive green Santa jacket, bold African-print trousers, and bright red Doc Martens. His energy was magnetic, and his massive smile made everyone feel instantly welcome. My son, usually a ball of energy, ran straight over but froze in awe, sitting with his back to this magical man for a few shy moments. But Rasta Clause—Santa’s cousin, didn’t you know?—was warm, funny, and so kind. Before long, my son found the courage to engage with him.
This was an especially poignant moment for us. My son has faced delays in his speech, and this was the first time he’s ever had an actual conversation with Santa—or his cousin! It was heartwarming to see him light up, especially since he’s been under the weather for the past few days. This visit truly seemed to fill him with joy and a little extra energy.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay any longer so we missed hearing the choirs, including Music House’s own. I’ve been hoping to catch a gospel choir performance in the run up to Christmas, so I’m now looking forward to seeing Music House Gospel Choir, set to make its national television debut in the Christmas special of Channel 5’s popular show Winter on the Farm, airing Tuesday 17 December 2024, at 9pm.
We wrapped up our visit by entering the raffle. Fingers crossed for that £600 trip!
Photography by Robyn Wilson.
