Harrogate Christmas Fayre begins today. With plenty of stallholders to buy gifts from, attractions to enjoy and festivities to embrace, it looks like being a memorable few days.
Market Place Europe is running the event in conjunction with Harrogate Borough Council from today until December 12.
It is a new venture so there are lots to look out for. The event will be spread out over more locations and days than the previous Harrogate Christmas Market, which took place on Montpellier Hill.
Here is everything you need to know:
Where will the stalls be?
There will be about 50 local and European stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.
For this weekend only there will also be stalls in Valley Gardens, where more than 60 local traders will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts plus food and drink at a separate artisan Christmas market.
When will the fayre be open?
It will be open between 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.
Little Bird Made’s Artisan Festive Market in Valley Gardens will be open from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5.
Do you have to wear a face mask?
Harrogate Borough Council has advised visitors to wear face masks around the fayre and on the free Candy Cane Express road train, which will shuttle people around town.
A map of the Christmas road train.
The government brought in new rules this week stipulating people must wear face coverings in shops, shopping centres, transport hubs and on public transport.
Children under 11 and those with a health condition or disability which means they cannot wear a face covering are exempt.
What will the weather be like?
According to the Met Office, outbreaks of rains and drizzle will clear in the morning to leave a largely dry day. It will be cloudy at first with some brighter spells in the afternoon.
Temperatures are set to increase tomorrow but it is not set to stay mild for long.
From then we are set for a chilly weekend with some sunny spells and showers. It will be occasionally windy with some rain and snow possible on Monday morning.
Will there be rides and transport?
A free road train will take visitors around Harrogate from today as part of the Harrogate Christmas Fayre.
The Candy Cane Express will stop at James Street, St Mary’s Walk and Crescent Road. It will also pass Montpellier Hill, Cheltenham Parade, Station Parade and Victoria Avenue.
Not only that but there are also festive rides, including a carousel and ferris wheels at Crescent Garden and a helter skelter at the war memorial. All of those rides cost £3 for a ticket.
The Helter Skelter next to the war memorial in Harrogate town centre.
Free parking at Harrogate multi-storey
Parking will be free after 3pm in Harrogate’s Victoria multi-storey car park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The initiative will last until December 23 and will be paid for by Harrogate Business Improvement District to encourage Christmas shoppers and revellers into the town midweek.
