Santa Claus is coming to town next month!

Santa Claus is coming to town next month as part of the Harrogate Father Christmas Experience 2021.

Harrogate Business Improvement District, which organises the event, revealed today that Father Christmas take up residence in the Crown Hotel after covid scuppered his appearance last year.

Children and families can come along on 15 days between November 20 and Christmas Eve to meet Santa and be part of an interactive elf-training experience hosted by chief elf Tinsel.

In previous years, Santa has made himself at home in Harrogate at Harlow Carr Gardens and Horticap but the centrally located hotel will host his visit this time.

Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson said:

“It is going to a truly magical experience for children and families, one that we are looking forward to deliver, and is a major component of our 2021 Christmas campaign.

“Harrogate BID, together with a host of partners, has been working behind the scenes for many months to ensure this will be a Christmas to remember, and one that will support our retailers at what has been an extremely challenging 18 months.

“And in just a few weeks, our Christmas lights will be illuminating more streets than in previous years.

For further details, including dates, click here.

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The Father Christmas Experience is part of what is shaping up to be a major festive offering in Harrogate this year.

The BID, which aims to increase footfall in the town centre, is also co-funding a town centre Ferris wheel, Victorian carousel, helter skelter and festive train.

It is partnering with The Rotary Club of Harrogate for the annual Christmas Shop Window competition and Harrogate International Festivals for its North Pole Post Office.

Aim to make Ripon a focus of Christmas festivities

Plans to make Ripon a focal point for the festive season are underway.

Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.

The decorations, paid for out of the parish precept, are designed to make the city’s streets more attractive for local residents and help increase footfall to benefit businesses.

This year extension, will see a tree lit up to the side of Ripon Cathedral and lighting from Bedern Bank to the Canal Basin, along Park Street, Church Street and Coltsgate Hill.

Ripon Town Hall will be one of the focal points for Christmas lighting

The lighting will be in place before the switch on event on the evening of 20 November, when a free to attend tribute act concert will be held on Market Square.

On 5 and 12 December, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.

At the full city council meeting on Monday, members approved the production of a brochure for distribution in Ripon and surrounding areas, which will publicise Christmas activities in the city.

The brochure has been produced in previous years, but the pandemic put paid to its publication last year.

Council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“We want to reach as many people as possible living in the broad hinterland of Ripon and invite them to join in the city’s Christmas celebrations.”

Councillor Chris Davis pointed out that posters for placement in shop windows have previously been produced alongside the brochure and he hoped the same would happen this year.

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Ferris wheel, carousel and road train part of huge Harrogate Christmas offering

A Ferris wheel, Victorian carousel, helter skelter and road train will be among the highlights of Harrogate’s festive offering.

Harrogate Borough Council announced a raft of new initiatives today to bring festive cheer this year.

The festivities will last from November 15 to the first week of January.

A road train will operate around the town centre from December 3 until December 12, which coincides with the dates of the new Harrogate Christmas Fayre.

It’s all part of the council’s drive to get people into the town centre to support the new fayre and the artisan market in the Valley Garden, which will also stimulate high street businesses.

The Stray Ferret asked where the attractions will be placed and what the cost will be but a council spokesperson said those details were yet to be confirmed.

To encourage footfall to town centres across the Harrogate district, a magical window trail will also be unveiled.

Funded by the government’s Welcome Back Fund, the window trail will feature 12 festive depictions that have been designed by local people.

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Gemma Rio, head of destination management at Harrogate Borough Council, said Harrogate would be “an absolutely unmissable destination for a festive day trip or weekend away” this Christmas.

She added:

“We have been working hard to ensure festivities return this year in order to drive visitors to our district’s shops, restaurants, visitor attractions, hotels and B&Bs.

“This latest announcement confirms that Christmas is well and truly set to return to Harrogate town centre and I’m really excited about what we’re due to bring.

“We are also about to launch the biggest Christmas marketing campaign in Visit Harrogate history to ensure all towns enjoy the benefits the additional footfall brings.”

Free parking

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate Business Improvement District manager, said it promised to be “one of the most impressive festive offerings Harrogate has seen in many years”.

He added:

“In addition to supporting the Harrogate Christmas Fayre and co-funding the Ferris wheel, Victorian carousel, and helter skelter, in just a few weeks our Christmas lights will be illuminating more streets than in previous years.

“We are again partnering with the Rotary Club of Harrogate for the annual Christmas Shop Window competition and Harrogate International Festivals for their North Pole post office. And on Monday (18 October), we will officially take the Christmas wrapping off our Father Christmas experience.

“We have also been working with Harrogate Borough Council to offer shopper’s free parking in Victoria multi-storey car park at set times during the month of December. Retailers are expecting us to pull out all the stops this Christmas, and I don’t think they will be disappointed.”

Christmas markets

Christmas market operator Market Place Europe have also announced this week that Harrogate Christmas Fayre will be open between 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.

The market will take place on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent and will be a great place to pick up some last minute and unique gifts along with mouth-watering treats for people to enjoy as they wander around taking in the sights and sounds.

Around 50 traders from Yorkshire will take part in the fayre.

In addition, Little Bird Made is set to hold a festive artisan market in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December, with times to be confirmed.

The artisan market will feature approximately 60 local and regional traders and producers who will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as food and drink.

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“More than 100 traders, as well as our high street businesses, will bring a first-class offering to Harrogate town centre this December that will truly get people in the festive mood.

“With the absence of a number of Christmas markets across the region this year, I have no doubt visitors will arrive by the coach load to see what Harrogate has to offer.

“Whether that’s our district’s shops, restaurants, visitor attractions or hotels and B&Bs, I hope everyone will see the benefit this town centre offering will bring.”

The September scramble to book Santa after a difficult year

When I overheard a mum saying she had set her alarm for 5.30am to book a Santa visit when tickets went on sale, I was pretty shocked.

Mainly because it’s September, but also because I didn’t realise this was now a thing.

Is the surge in popularity due to the pandemic and feeling like our kids missed out last year? Or is this now another “must-do” task to tick off on our ever-growing festive to-do lists? Don’t get me started on Elf on a Shelf and Christmas Eve boxes – cheers for that America.

Sally Haslewood, founder of Harrogate Mumbler, said:

“I think that September has always been a time that people start booking Christmas things – well people who are organised do anyway. I’ve never been that organised!

“I think particularly this year, parents want to give their kids a really good Christmas. They probably missed out last year so they want to book early to avoid disappointment.

“And to be honest I don’t necessarily see it as a bad thing, because I think it will help the businesses as well. If it helps them plan and staff properly and know where they are from a business point of view I think that can only be a good thing.”

Now I am all about making my children happy, I love seeing their little faces light up when they see Father Christmas. But is there now more pressure than ever to deliver the best experience for your little ones?

If you can’t afford a visit or, God forbid, you forget to book anything in time, do you feel like a bad parent?

Sally said:

The thing is around Harrogate there are always last minute things that crop up as well. So if like me you are not as organised and you haven’t booked something for Christmas, there are always things you can get in last minute.

I think this year is potentially a little bit worse than normal, but parents are pretty organised. As soon as the kids are back at school in September, the next big thing is Santa visits. So hopefully this year the kids will have the Christmas they missed out on last year.”

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Don’t panic if you haven’t got yours booked yet. Here are three ideas for you:

Mother Shipton’s – Knaresborough

Wander through the winter woodland to see the enchanted Christmas Village, festooned with festive delights and merry displays to marvel at along the way.

Chief Elf Chestnut will be delighted to meet little visitors and lead them to see Santa Claus.

Santa will be keeping warm in his cosy grotto, and visitors can say hello or take an ‘elfie with the big man himself.

To keep Santa safe, Mother Shipton’s will be adhering to social distancing, but visitors will be able to see and speak to him before he sets off on his long journey.

November 21 – December 24. Click here to buy tickets. 

Santa’s Grotto – Stockeld Park 

December 3 – December 24. Click here to buy tickets.

 

Festive lighting plan is unveiled for Ripon Town Hall

With Christmas just over three months away, Ripon is gearing up for further expansion of the city’s seasonal lights.

Ripon City Council has unanimously agreed to support moves to create a new festive feature on the front of the town hall.

Costing £5,400, it would consist of a sequenced multi-coloured lights display that can be programmed to include seasonal and other messages.

Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the Grade II Listed building in the Market Place, needs to approve the proposal.

Last year, in a festive season affected by covid lockdown and restrictions, £65,000 set aside for public events that were subsequently cancelled, was used to enhance and extend Ripon’s Christmas lights.

The lights covered three miles of city centre and adjoining streets, including all major gateways and this year, in addition to the town hall plan, improvements will be made to light displays on High Skellgate and Westgate.

Ripon Christmas lights on Kirkgate

Kirkgate – the approach to Ripon Cathedral – was part of the three-mile display of lights last Christmas.

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams said:

“A multi-coloured curtain of light across the town hall, which can incorporate messages, will have a wow factor and create a focal point for Ripon’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.”

Councillors were told that this would be be a temporary display and, if approval is received from Harrogate Borough Council, its installation will be timed to ensure that it does not clash with the Remembrance Day poppies display at the town hall.

The technology employed enables the lights to change colour and feature a range of pre-programmed messages.

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Dates and locations for new Harrogate Christmas market revealed

The new Harrogate Christmas market is to be held on various streets in the town centre across 10 days in December.

New organisers Market Place Europe will stage its version of the seasonal market from Friday, December 3 until Sunday, December 12.

Stalls will be located on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.

Harrogate Borough Council revealed the details in a statement today, which also said that due to coronavirus, there will be around 50 traders with stalls spaced wider than usual.

The original Harrogate Christmas Market had around 170 traders and 55 coaches booked to attend and was expected to attract around 90,000 visitors over four days.

The council is working with Market Place Europe, Harrogate BID and North Yorkshire County Council on the new event, which will take the place of the one traditionally held on Montpellier Hill.

The organisers plan to have a larger number of stalls next year, subject to an improved public health situation.

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However, the Harrogate Christmas Fayre, as the new event is known, still needs to wait to get an approved event management plan.

According to today’s statement, the new event will feature “a number of local traders” as well as those from across Europe. Arts and crafts as well as food and drink will all be on offer.

Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“As operators of award-winning markets in cities such as Belfast and Glasgow, I’m sure Market Place Europe will bring a first-class offering that truly gets people in the festive mood.

“It’s been a difficult 18 months for everyone and I am confident that by working with them, local partners and stakeholders we will be able to deliver a safe, vibrant and attractive Christmas fayre.

“It will drive visitors to our district’s shops, restaurants, visitor attractions, hotels and B&Bs this festive season.”

Nick Rhodes, chief executive of Market Place Europe, said:

“Extensive research has demonstrated that our events provide additional support to town centre economies.

“As Harrogate emerges from a challenging number of months we are looking forward to bringing a quality family friendly yuletide offering to the town centre.

“We have already had several expressions of interest from a number of coach companies who are keen to bring visitors to Harrogate this Christmas.”

Cllr Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for access and member for Harrogate Saltergate, said:

“As always, our priority will be to ensure that the highways arrangements will be safe, with minimal disruption to local businesses and to residents.

“I am sure that the fayre will provide a welcome boost for the town’s businesses and residents after a difficult couple of years.”

What happened to Harrogate Christmas Market?

Harrogate Borough Council refused a licence for the former Harrogate Christmas Market due to concerns about coronavirus, overcrowding and terrorism.

After three weeks of wrangling with the council, co-organiser Brian Dunsby admitted defeat in his battle to hold the event on Montpellier Hill.

It later emerged the council had been engaged in talks with Manchester-based organisers Market Place Europe since March and has now ramped up those discussions about staging an alternative Christmas market in December.

Brian Dunsby, who co-founded the original Harrogate Christmas Market with former mayor John Fox, said:

“We are determined to organise another traditional Harrogate Christmas Market in November 2022 – hopefully in the usual location.

“We also ploughed back over £90,000 into local good causes over the past five years. It will be interesting to see how much the new venture will donate to similar local good causes.”

Annual Christmas concert at Harrogate Royal Hall returns

The annual Christmas concert at Harrogate’s Royal Hall featuring Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band will return in December following last year’s cancellation.

The Christmas Fantasy concert will once again see the famous brass band perform with chorus accompaniment from Harrogate Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

It is due to take place on December 18 with both a matinee and an evening show.

The show will consist of original songs from the band, Gilbert and Sullivan classics and some Christmas favourites.

Last year the show was cancelled for the first time since it was first performed over 30 years ago due to covid restrictions.

Carrie Brown, chair of the Harrogate G&S Society, said;

“We want it to be a very special relaunch given that it was cancelled last year. We’re lucky to have some very loyal people who have come to see us year on year and use it as a way to start off their Christmas.”

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The Harrogate G&S society was formed in 1972 by enthusiasts for the Victorian theatrical duo.

Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band dates back to 1881 and has performed across the globe.

Tickets are due to go on sale in September with under-16s allowed entry for free.

Original Harrogate Christmas Market will not return next year

The original Harrogate Christmas Market will not return next year after Harrogate Borough Council entered into formal talks with an organiser from Manchester.

Brian Dunsby, who established the Christmas market in 2012 and built it up to a success, has admitted defeat in his battle to hold the event on Montpellier Hill.

Harrogate Borough Council refused the licence at the end of July and has now revealed that Market Place Europe is now planning to hold a smaller event in December.

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After three weeks of wrangling with the council Brian Dunsby told the Stray Ferret:

“It is a shame for traders we have and for the sake of the town centre businesses which all need the Harrogate Christmas Market.

“Some of the traders may go bust. I think that very few will get into the event being organised by Market Place Europe.

“We created a marvellous event, it was a great success. It is also a distressing situation for the local charities we raise money for.

“Over the years we donated £90,000 from the profits we made.”

Mr Dunsby does not plan to hold the Harrogate Christmas Market this year of next but thinks there may be an opportunity for it to return in 2023. He added:

“By 2023 North Yorkshire County Council will be in charge. So whether we have another go then, I don’t know. It’s too early to say.

“I will not try next year because I do not think there is any point when Harrogate Borough Council is still in charge.”

The orginial Harrogate Christmas Market had around 170 traders booked in, 55 coaches and it expected to attract around 90,000 visitors for the four-day event.

Harrogate Borough Council refused a licence for Brian Dunsby’s event at the end of July.

It said that the event management plan did not fully take into account overcrowding, counter-terrorism and the ongoing risk of coronavirus.

However, Market Place Europe is planning to host 45 stalls with a mixture of European and local traders over 10 days at a yet undisclosed location in the town centre.

Council drops Harrogate Christmas Market organisers after row

Harrogate Borough Council has dropped the organisers of Harrogate Christmas Market after a row over the location.

Council leader Richard Cooper described the volunteers who created and built up the event as the “former Christmas market organisers” in a statement released today.

He added the council was now having formal discussions with a new organisation about running the market.

A total of 170 traders and 53 coaches had booked to attend this year’s event on Montpellier Hill from November 18 to 21. Some 85,000 people were expected to attend and contribute about £2.5 million to the district’s economy. It is now unclear what will happen to those bookings or indeed the event.

Today’s news comes just two weeks after the council refused a licence for the Christmas market — it said the emergency services had raised safety concerns about the location on Montpellier Hill.

The Stray Ferret has asked the council several times without success to see the advice it received from the emergency services.

Cllr Cooper, who has previously warned Mr Dunsby not to try to galvanise public support for his cause, said people were now bored of the row and it was time to move on. But he said the council was prepared to meet the organisers to explore alternative locations.

However, Brian Dunsby, one of three co-organisers of the market, said he has offered several times to meet the council to discuss concerns.

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Today’s statements in full

Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council:

“It’s time to move on. The he-said-she-said Punch and Judy show between the council and the former Christmas market organisers, about the feasibility of Montpellier Hill, isn’t getting us any further forward and the public are bored of it.

“What is important is that Harrogate hosts a safe, vibrant and attractive Christmas market bring more people into our town to shop in our fantastic independents stores, sample our amazing cafés and restaurants and set cash registers ringing.

“So we are moving the conversation on to focus only on that goal now. Fortunately, a number of event organisers have been in touch, with one in-particular showing great enthusiasm to bring their business and expertise to Harrogate town centre this Christmas. And why wouldn’t they with all that we have to offer?

“From today we are formalising that discussion.

“We are also keeping the invitation open to the former organisers to explore alternative locations and discuss those with us, for the betterment of town centre trade. And put the previous disagreements behind us all.”

Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of Harrogate Christmas Market:

“We have offered to meet the senior council officer Alison Wilson to discuss potential other locations – provided that if none is found suitable then we need to address the real reasons for refusing a licence to hold the event as usual on Montpellier Hill and St Mary’s Walk. We believe they are not valid reasons for refusal of a licence.

“Unfortunately the council leader and chief executive are not even prepared to meet us to discuss face to face the issues that they have raised which we believe we have resolved safely! So we are sending them another detailed response to the issues raised by Alison Wilson.

“Shortly we shall send another rebuttal of the issues alleged to have been raised by the emergency services.

“We have asked each of the Yorkshire fire and rescue, ambulance and police services for a meeting to clarify their concerns which we feel are all previously resolved.”

Harrogate Christmas Market: council refuses meeting with organisers

Harrogate Borough Council has told organisers of the Harrogate Christmas Market it will not meet to discuss plans for the event on Montpellier Hill.

The market organisers called for a meeting at the end of July after the council declined to issue a licence for the event, placing it in jeopardy.

A total of 170 traders and 53 coaches had booked to attend the market, which was expected to attract 85,000 people to the town from November 18 to 21, boosting its economy by £2.5 million.

But in an email seen by the Stray Ferret, Wallace Sampson, chief executive at Harrogate Borough Council, told Brian Dunsby, one of the three market organisers:

“To be clear, the council will not meet to discuss the reasons for declining a licence for Montpellier Hill as the reasons have already been set out to you in writing.”

Mr Dunsby told the Stray Ferret last night:

“We had no response to our request for a meeting until today. I think Mr Sampson’s position is immoral.

“Since the news broke about Harrogate Christmas Market we have been inundated with messages of support from both traders and retailers.

“We believe that there is no viable alternative location near to the town centre – which is vital in terms of attracting visitors into the town centre.”

If Montpellier Hill is no longer an option, the organisers may have to consider moving the event to a different location although they have insisted they do not believe there is a viable alternative.

Harrogate Borough Council has said it is working on alternative festive arrangements and may consider doing so without the current organisers. It has said it has already received “a number of expressions of interest” from potential partners.

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