PROGRAMME OF EVENTS CONFIRMED FOR THIS WEEKEND'S BEVERLEY FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS
The Beverley Festival of Christmas is set to return this weekend, bringing festive fun to the town.
The annual event will return on Sunday (14th December), bringing a diverse range of Victorian-themed market stalls, as well as fairground rides, face painting, food and beverage and street entertainment.
Stalls will take over Saturday Market, Wednesday Market and North Bar Within from 10am - 4pm, together with family entertainment.
North Bar’s Georgian Quarter will also feature entirely East Yorkshire businesses and traders along with an ice sculpture.
At 10am, Santa and his reindeer will set off in their sleigh from Wednesday Market as part of the parade, greeting the crowds through Butcher Row and Toll Gavel on their way to Saturday Market, where they will be based until 2:30pm.
There will also be festivities taking place on the day at Flemingate shopping centre, Beverley Minster, St Mary’s Church, the Guildhall, Toll Gavel Church and East Riding Theatre.
Champney Treasure House will also be open for the festival, with free drop-in crafty activities for all visitors.
Help the team put the finishing touches on their Christmas tree by making mini angels to hang on the branches.
Write a Christmas wish on the back of angels to help spread good cheer.
There will also be the opportunity to make a festive 3D angel to take home.
Arts activity packs will be provided by Beverley Library for guests to take home with them and complete over the Christmas period.
Champney Treasure House Café will be open from 11am – 3.30pm, serving gingerbread lattes and classic mince pies.
The counter will have a selection of cakes and festive goodies.
The weekly Saturday Market on 13th December will also feature a festive theme.
Due to road closures and limited parking in the town centre, visitors are encouraged to travel by public transport.
Beverley Bus Station is a two-minute walk to Saturday Market and Beverley Train Station is a five-minute walk to Wednesday Market.
Limited parking spaces will be available on Norwood, Grayburn Lane, Grovehill, Flemingate, Butcher Row and Lord Roberts Rd car parks.
Blue Badge parking will also be available in Princes Gardens Car Park off Champney Road, behind the Treasure House.
Road closures and parking suspensions will be in operation in Saturday Market from 6pm on Saturday 13th December until 7pm on Sunday 14th December along with Wednesday Market, North Bar from 2am on Sunday 14th December until 7pm.
School Lane and Butcher Row Car park will also be closed from 2am on Sunday 14th December until 7pm and unavailable for public use.
The taxi rank will remain in operation on the evening of Saturday 13th December in Saturday Market and will move to Cross St on Sunday 14th December during the Festival of Christmas.
A free park and ride service will run from Beverley Racecourse on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December with the first bus departing from the racecourse at 9am and buses running every 15 to 20 minutes to and from the drop-off point just outside North Bar on Wylies Rd.
The last bus will return to the racecourse at 5pm each day.
Visitors can also walk from the park and ride in around 20 minutes.
Free Public Wi-Fi is also available throughout the town for visitors to access through the Smart County Programme.
Councillor Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to Beverley for the Festival of Christmas, our flagship tourism event of the year.
“The Festival of Christmas is the largest one-day Christmas market in the country and provides visitors, residents and businesses the opportunity to buy a range of gifts in the run up to the holidays.”
“It provides a huge economic benefit to the town, showcasing some amazing businesses in the markets and on the high street, and we encourage everyone to attend and take part in the festivities.”
Beverley Festival of Christmas brochures will be available from Hull and East Yorkshire volunteers across the town on the day, or prior to the event from the tourist information based at The Treasure House on Champney Road.