Starbeck Community Day took place today to raise money for the annual Christmas lights appeal.
The free event, at Harrogate Railway AFC on Station View, included a range of stalls as well as a drinks bar.
There were also donkey rides and live performances from groups including Starbeck Dancing for Wellbeing.
The day also saw the crowning of the annual Starbeck community king and queen. The honours went to Ted Carman, 9, and Celeste Reid, 9.
(from left) Last year’s queen Kya-Mae Goodwin, 11 new queen Celeste Reid and new king Ted Carman.
It is one of four events held each year to raise funds for Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal.
There is also an Easter fun day, a craft fair and nearly new sale and a Christmas fayre.
Organiser Chrissie Holmes said:
“We have to raise £8,000 a year to keep the lights going. They really brighten up Starbeck and the children love to see them walking to and from school on dark nights.”
Visitors could learn about the plans for Knaresborough Forest Park.
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Meat-pie eating contest to be held at Starbeck Community Day
An annual community event is returning this weekend to raise money for the Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal.
Starbeck Community Day will include a range of stalls and rides, as well as a drinks bar and live entertainment throughout the day.
Visitors can also enjoy donkey rides, an obstacle course and live performances from Starbeck Dancing for Wellbeing and the Summerbell Dance Academy.
Competitions will be held throughout the day to boost the fundraising efforts, including a meat pie-eating contest for adults and a jelly-eating competition for children.
The 2023/24 Starbeck community king and queen will also be crowned on the day.
Christine Holmes, group leader of the Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal, told the Stray Ferret:
“We’re raising funds for the Starbeck Christmas lights, it’s to pay for the maintenance or any replacements we need.
“We took it over about nine years ago to keep the tradition going, with prices rising all the time we’re constantly raising funds. We were quite a lot down on donations last year.
“We really need to boost the funds quite a bit. It is a community day and it’s there for everybody to enjoy.”
Last year, the community day raised around £700 as part of the £8,000 required to fund the Christmas lights. The 2023 event hopes to beat that figure.
The event will take place from noon to 4pm at Harrogate Railway AFC on Station View. Entry is free.
A Disney-themed parade from Starbeck Methodist Church to Harrogate Railway AFC will begin the event
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Residents in Starbeck flocked to Starbeck Community Day today to help raise money for this year’s Christmas lights.
The annual event took place at Harrogate Railway Athletic FC and saw a range of stalls, barbecue, licensed bar and raffle prizes.
Chrissie Holmes, of the Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal which organises the event, said the goal was to raise £5,000.
She said:
“We are here to raise funds for the Christmas lights, it is an annual event.
“We need to raise £5,000 each year for the cost to put them [the lights] up and to maintain them.”
Starbeck Community Day, which was held today.
The small group of volunteers are aiming to light up Starbeck High Street with the lights, which would run up to Forest Head Lane.
To help in the fundraising effort, prizes and events were on display to raise money.
Strabeck Residents’ Association also had a stall and Starbeck Library were on hand to accept donations for books.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, also had a clinic at the event to speak with constituents about issues.
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Friends of Starbeck Library held a book sale.
The Starbeck Residents’ Association stall.
Starbeck Community Day will be returning today after being cancelled last year due to covid.
The free event will be hosted at Harrogate Railway’s Station View ground from 12pm until 4pm.
Guests can enjoy craft and homemade stalls, live music and activities such as a bouncy castle and inflatable jousting.
There will be appearances from the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate.
All money made from the event will go towards Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal.
Event organiser Chrissie Holmes expressed her enthusiasm for the event:
“I’m really excited especially because we missed out on hosting the event last year; this will be our way of giving back to residents of Starbeck.”
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Chrissie confirmed that there will be 30 stalls selling food, drinks and handmade goods.
Children under 14 will also have the chance to be crowned Starbeck’s King, Queen, Prince or Princess.
There will also be performances from Harrogate Spa Town Ukes and Summerbell Dance Academy.