Knaresborough was packed at the weekend for what is being hailed as the town’s busiest ever Christmas market.

A total of 68 stalls crammed into Market Place to greet customers from all over the country and beyond.

The attractions also included a Christmas tree festival at St John’s Church and a fireworks finale, provided by local firm Ferrensby Fireworks.

Hazel Haas, who chairs the Christmas market committee, estimated up to 10,000 people attended on Saturday and up to 6,000 people turned out yesterday. She said:

“It was amazing. I’ve never seen it so busy. Many people said it was the busiest ever. In fact some traders sold out of their entire weekend stock on the Saturday.”

Ms Haas attributed the success to the quality of stalls, which she said had gradually improved over the years, and to the fact that the event still offered a cheap weekend for people in tough times.

The Christmas tree festival, the fireworks and the park and ride were all free so visitors could soak up the atmosphere and explore the town without having to spend any money.

So many coaches attended that extra space was required to accommodate them and King James’s School agreed to help at late notice.

The Christmas market is a joint initiative between the Rotary Club of Knaresborough, the Lions Club of Knaresborough and Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

“We were thrilled with the support for the market again this year, as well as our fantastic local businesses. We had worked really hard to promote all the town has to offer in the lead up to the event and feedback so far has been great, with one business even reporting they’d had their best ever day.

“People travelled from far and wide and at one point we even had a queue of coaches waiting to drop off market visitors. I spoke to one couple who had travelled from Leicester having seen the town featured in the recent film ‘A Very Yorkshire Christmas’ and another man who was visiting from the Netherlands. The town felt so wonderfully festive and even the showers on Sunday did nothing to deter visitors.”

Knaresborough woman Hazel Haas has been awarded the title of Honorory Freedom of the Town for her “extraordinary contribution” to the community.

Ms Haas became the first woman to join Knaresborough Rotary Club and in 1996 became its first female president.

For many years she has chaired the Knaresborough Christmas Markets Committee and has also been involved in the BEBRA town twinning association.

With the advent of covid, she has helped to run local vaccination centres as principal co-ordinator.

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The freedom of the town title has been awarded by Knaresborough Town Council.

Cllr Christine Willoughby, Knaresborough’s Mayor, paid tribute to Ms Haas who she called one of the town’s doers.

She added:

“She works incredibly hard for our community and we are very grateful to her. This award is very well deserved.”

Peter Lacey, chair of Knaresborough Connectors, said:

“Knaresborough Connectors recognise the invaluable work that Hazel undertook from the start of the pandemic to co-ordinate volunteers and keep a cheery face during difficult and stressful times.

“Her organisational skills and energy when applied to supporting the vaccination centre with local volunteers was equally heroic and we’re delighted that she continues to steer the work of Connectors through her role as a Director.  Long may her wisdom and example inspire others!