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19
Sept
Details of Harrogate Christmas fayre revealed
Harrogate’s Christmas fayre is set to return for a fourth year.
The fayre, which was held over three weekends for the first time last year, will run for 17 days starting from late November.
North Yorkshire Council confirmed the news today after it allocated £100,000 towards hosting the fayre in July, which will be organised by Market Place.
People can look forward to the return of the candy cane express road train, which will ferry visitors around the town centre, as well as a 32-metre ferris wheel.
Council leader, Carl Les, said the authority is “delighted” the fayre is making a comeback:
The Harrogate Christmas fayre is a popular event in the North Yorkshire calendar, so we are delighted that it is returning for 2024.
Events such as these make a significant impact for the tourism industry at a crucial time in the business calendar. They bring footfall into town centres as well as attracting visitors from outside of the area to plan their festive break here in North Yorkshire.
Naail Ishaq and Tim Stedman at Harrogate Christmas Fayre 2023.
There will be up to 50 stalls with independent traders from across the country and Europe selling seasonal gifts, food and decorations.
The council also cited data from STR, a hospitality data analysis firm, which claims occupancy rates at Harrogate hotels was around 73% last December.
Dan Siddle, general manager at The Crown Hotel, added:
We are delighted that the Harrogate Christmas fayre will be back again this year. Since its launch, we have seen a significant increase in occupancy.
The fayre provides a great reason for people to visit during the festive period and extend their stay to experience what the rest of the area has to offer.
Little Bird Made artisan markets will also host seasonal traders over three weekends during the Christmas fayre, which people can find in the Valley Gardens.
Visitors can look forward to jewellery, crafts and gift stands from local makers.
Market Place’s chief executive, Nick Rhodes, also said:
We can’t wait to be back in Harrogate this year to deliver the Christmas fayre.
Harrogate is a beautiful town to host one of our events, and we are looking forward to bringing another amazing variety of traders into the town centre to increase footfall and contribute to the local economy.
The Harrogate Christmas fayre will take place from Friday, November 29, until Sunday, December 15.
The Harrogate Ice Rink
The company behind the Harrogate Ice Rink, which was held as part of the festivities last year, told the Stray Ferret in January it would not be returning to the town.
York-based Events by Cynosure ran the rink in collaboration with Destination Harrogate, North Yorkshire Council’s tourism body, in Crescent Gardens.
The venture was in the second of a three-year deal between the two organisations.
But John Lowery, chief operating officer at Events by Cynosure, told the Stray Ferret at the time the ice rink would not be returning for the next festive season:
We have no plans to return for 2024 due to the losses sustained this year from the weather and lack of footfall in the area.
The news came after the company faced criticism from customers about the condition of the ice and poor customer service.
The Stray Ferret last year reported on complaints from some unhappy customers, one of whom described the surface as “extremely dangerous” and said the “rusty blades” had not been maintained.
Mr Lowery said the company had “suffered like all outdoor ice rinks” following adverse weather conditions throughout December, which led it to close eight times in just over a month.
No further updates on the future of the ice rink have been issued since, but the Stray Ferret has asked the council if it will return.
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