'˜Beary' good reception for Ballymena's festive advert

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Audrey Wales MBE welcomes Bertie the Ballymena Bear to sign her guestbook in the Mayors Parlour. Also pictured is star of the advert, Rachel Stevenson and Alison Moore, BID Manager

Mayor Audrey Wales welcomed the packed audience to the auditorium where prior to the highly anticipated new advert being shown, the winner of the ‘Best Dressed Bear’ competition was announced.

Joy Snoddy was the lucky winner, with her very own ‘Mayor Audrey Wales’ bear, and won her very own ‘Ballymena Bear’ to take home.

Joy also helped turn on the town’s Christmas lights which followed the preview event.

Mayor Wales, MBE said: “It was great to see so many local families and members of the local business community at the Ballymena Bear preview. The town is gearing up for a busy and festive Christmas season and we hope everyone enjoys seeing the Ballymena Bear advert. I must also congratulate Joy Snoddy on winning the ‘Best Dressed Bear’ competition, to the runners up Lucas Martin and Kayla Martin and to all of the children who took part.”

The Ballymena Bear preview event was organised by Ballymena BID to showcase this year’s Christmas advert which was produced to encourage people to visit the town, especially in the run up to Christmas.

Alison Moore, BID Manager said: “We were delighted to organise this special event and to give the local community and businesses the opportunity to get a sneak peak of what the Ballymena Bear has been up to this year.

“The success of the advert last year helped boost the town’s appeal and we hope to see a similar situation this year. Ballymena is a great shopping town with lots of independent retailers and businesses and has so much to offer so we hope this advert will encourage more people to come and visit the town.”

The Ballymena Bear became a viral sensation and global hit last year when it first appeared to promote the town’s Christmas festivities. The film was made by Ballymena-based Grafters Design Studio and starred Rachel Stevenson, while the bear was made by Michele Lowry of local gift shop Penny & Rose from linen supplied by Baird McNutt.

Stephen Reid, from Grafters Design Studio commented; “This year we want to do even better and are really hoping that we can help put Ballymena on the map as a perfect Christmas shopping destination.”

The Ballymena Bear advert will be publicly available from November 17 on Ballymena Means Facebook page.