A bumper weekend of Christmas markets in the Harrogate district got underway today.
The smell of mulled wine and hot dogs filled the air in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Masham today as visitors flocked to each town’s festive stalls.
In Harrogate, stalls lined the streets in the town centre for day two of Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which opened yesterday. It lasts for 10 days.
Today was also the start of a two-day event in Valley Gardens that featured about 50 local, artisan stalls in the Sun Colonnade.
Festive markets also returned to Knaresborough, as stalls selling sweets, crafts, clothes and food and drink filled the market square.
Father Christmas made a trip to Masham today to visit the town’s Christmas market and craft fayre.
In Knaresborough …
Kirsty Riddell and Leanne Wilkie from The Fat Birds Bakery
Knaresborough Christmas Market weekend got underway today
Chris Wilson has been selling chestnuts at the market for 20 years.
Nemo from clothing company Making My Grass Greener
Read more:
- Christmas Events: diary of festivities in the Harrogate district
- Traders and visitors give thumbs-up to first Harrogate Christmas Fayre
In Harrogate’s Valley Gardens …
Stalls opened in Valley Gardens this morning under the Sun Colonnade
Colin and Emma Hall were there from Box Prints
Visitors enjoy a wander through the market
In Harrogate Town Centre …
Diana Macbeth-Case from Dipple Tipple & Co
The Pick & Mix stall was a hit
Oliver Edhouse from The Crusty Pie Company
Were you at Harrogate’s Christmas Markets today?
In Masham …
Thank you to Cllr Ian Johnson for sending over some photos of today’s events in Masham.
Numerous stalls pitched up on Market Square today
Santa was there to hear the children’s wishes for this year
The craft fayre was enjoyed by many
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…So, with a few changes to the plans this year, we have compiled this guide of everything you need to know about Harrogate’s Christmas markets.
After the loss of the original Harrogate Christmas Market, the festive offering has splintered into three markets.
While some of the original stalls will be at the newly-refurbished Crimple Hall at the end of November, new stall holders will be at events across the town centre and Valley Gardens in December.
Harrogate Christmas Fayre across the town centre
Market Place Europe is taking on the main event in Harrogate but rather than Montpellier Hill this new Harrogate Christmas Fayre will take place across the town centre.
There will be a mixture of local and European stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will feature around 50 traders spaced out wider than usual to try to encourage social distancing.
Rather than the usual four-day market, the Market Place Europe event will take place over a week from December 3 until December 12.
- When – December 3 until December 12, Monday to Wednesday – 10am to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday – 10am to 9pm, and Sundays from 10am to 5pm
- Where – Across the town centre with stalls on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent
- What – 50 traders with a mixture of local and European stallholders
- Who – Market Place Europe is working with Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate BID
Market Place Europe is behind the Harrogate Christmas Fayre.
Christmas Market Weekend at Crimple Hall
Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of Harrogate Christmas Market, has worked with some of the stallholders who were planning to go to his cancelled event to get them at a new venue.
Crimple Hall will hold the Christmas Market Weekend, which will feature more than 20 food and craft stalls.
There will also be plenty of children’s activities, a festive animal farm, face painting, treasure trails, wreath making demonstration and live music.
The Christmas Market at Crimple Hall will be held on November 27 and 28, from 8am to 7pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday.
- When – November 27 and 28, 8am to 7pm on Saturday and 10 am to 4pm on the Sunday
- Where – Newly refurbished Crimple Hall on Leeds Road
- What – More than 20 food and craft stalls with plenty of activities
- Who – Crimple Hall is working with the organisers of the original Harrogate Christmas Market
There will be a festive offering at the new Crimple Hall.
Artisan Christmas market in Valley Gardens
Little Bird Made, which has made a name for itself across North Yorkshire with its artisan markets, is set to hold a festive version of its market in Valley Gardens.
More than 60 local traders and producers will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as locally produced food and drink.
This is a new addition to the town called Artisan Festive Market, with the organisers working with Harrogate Borough Council.
It will be held on the weekend of December 4 and 5 between 10am and 3pm.
- When – December 4 and 5, 10am to 3pm
- Where – Valley Gardens
- What – More than 60 local traders sell a variety of festive arts and crafts plus food and drink
- Who – Little Bird Made, which has run a number of artisan markets in the district
The Artisan Festive Market will be held in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.