Imagine walking around your streets at night and seeing your neighbourhood in a whole new light. Window Wanderland is a fun community project that started in Bristol in 2015, with amazing results, and Shepton Mallet will host this unique event for the third time, on November 24-27 as Make the Sunshine CiC work in partnership with the Old Stores Studio in Evercreech.

What is it?

Window Wanderland invites all residents of Shepton Mallet and Evercreech to make displays in their windows that will then form a magical trail which can be explored by the whole community. What goes into the displays is totally up to you: from a string of fairy lights to an illuminated paper display, from simple to spectacular: you could be inspired by a book, an album, your favourite animals - as long as it's family friendly, anything goes.

It's easy to put your house on the map if you want to make a display, just visit the event page HERE

 To see display ideas and find out more you can also visit @makethesunshinecic on Facebook or Instagram, or @sheptonwindowwanderland on Instagram and search @windowwander on Pinterest.

Make the Sunshine will be hosting two free window-making workshops supported by the Town Council on Sunday, November 13 and Sunday, November 20 at Paul Street Community Centre in Shepton Mallet from 2-4pm.

The Old Stores in Evercreech will also be hosting a workshop on Saturday, November 19, 2-4pm.

You can collect a free making pack from Shepton Mallet Library, the sessions at Paul Street Community Rooms and The Old Stores Studio and through local school playgrounds.

Over the last few years Shepton has seen some amazing windows across the town, with a huge range of organisations taking part - from all the local schools to The Art Bank, from Shepton Mallet Library to Tescos, from The Cheeky Bean to The Anglo Trading Estate, from Haskin's (who allow the community to use several windows as well as creating their own magnificent window) to the town's many estate agents. Any home or organisation can take part and it is free to register!

Window Wanderland was created in 2015 in Bristol by Lucy Reeves, a mum, artist and 'nosy parker' who says: "Everyone has a playful side to them, they just need an opportunity to show it. I wanted to make an event that anyone can participate in and do something different. This brightens up the long Winter nights giving everyone a great excuse to get outdoors. We have seen over 3,500 displays made by schools, grandparents, even pets! It is a proper grassroots community event and some roads had almost every house participating, using campervans, top floor windows and even decorating hedges with lights."

As a not-for-profit organisation, Window Wanderland is passionate about social change and recognises that although we live closer than ever, we are becoming more isolated, with over 7.5 million people now living alone in the UK. Window Wanderland is embraced by those who see it, young and old. It has received feedback from over 1,250 participants. 100% of people say that the event helped to build their community, 97% say that they would do it again and 84% say they were proud of their neighbourhoods as a result of taking part in Window Wanderland. "Lovely to talk to complete strangers who are part of the local community", wrote a resident of forty years. "Really enjoyed collaborating with my neighbours to make a terrace-long themed display", said another participant.