The annual Beverley Festival of Christmas returns for 2016 on Sunday, 11 December, from 10am-4pm, and will take place at venues and locations across the town.
Starting with a parade, from Wednesday Market to Saturday Market, the festivities will be led by Santa and his reindeer and will also feature the Bernese mountain dogs, marching bands, steam punks and much more.
New for 2016 is the expansion of the popular Victorian Christmas Market, which will now take in North Bar Within and the Flemingate centre, as well as Saturday Market and Wednesday Market.
Local traders will be selling a range of festive stocking fillers, colourful crafts and specialty seasonal food from 130 stalls
As well as items to buy, there will be plenty of family entertainment in all corners of the town.
Flemingate will be hosting a Disney-themed Christmas grotto and in North Bar Within there will be live music and a birds of prey display.
A reindeer display, face painting and traditional fairground rides will be located in Saturday Market and more live music will be available in Wednesday Market. Various activities will also be taking place around venues in town, such as Toll Gavel Church, Beverley Minster and St Mary’s Church.
Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for economic investment and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“The Beverley Festival of Christmas is one of the most popular events on the local calendar and the council, through EY Events, is always looking at ways to improve the experience for both residents and visitors.
“Expanding the offer into new areas of the town was something that became very clear from the independent research we commissioned into last year’s event and will allow North Bar Within and Flemingate to play a more integral role in the festival.
“With visitor numbers reaching 55,000 last year and acknowledgment from Visit Hull and East Yorkshire’s Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards, the Beverley Festival of Christmas is a great way to get all the family into the Christmas spirit.”
Graham Tait, Flemingate Centre Manager, said:
“The Beverley Festival of Christmas is a tremendous event enjoyed by many thousands of residents and visitors to the town and we’re delighted Flemingate will be part of it this year.
“Our participation will provide an extended footprint and added appeal for the festival and ensure there are even more reasons to come to Beverley to experience the very best of festive spirit.”
Nathan Bush, chairman of the Georgian Quarter and North Bar Traders Association, said:
“The Beverley Festival of Christmas provides a great opportunity to bring people and the community together to celebrate this festive time of the year.”
“It is great that the Georgian Quarter will play a prominent part in this year’s event. It is a unique part of the town and something really special.”
A full programme for the 2016 festival is available on the festival website, including a list of stalls trading, a map of the stalls’ locations, programme times and details of all the entertainment.
For further information about The Beverley Festival of Christmas, visit www.beverleyfestivalofchristmas.co.uk
