A Christmas Yule Love

The sleigh bells are ringing and the halls are decked – yes, it’s Christmas time. So start the festivities with a trip to the famous Skipton Christmas Market. Now in its 21st year, and consistently voted as one of the top 10 Christmas Markets in the UK, the Gateway to the Dales is again hosting the two day event on Sunday December 6 and 13 and it’s far from your average festival.

How many Christmas festivities can boast live entertainment featuring a trio of grannies flying around on motorised shopping trollies? Granny Turismo are definitely worth checking out – the kids and adults will love them.

There’s nothing quite like a good sing song to make everyone feel Christmassy too, so another must see is Musical Ruth – the singing nun aboard her mobile piano. Add to this Carollers from the local choral society and schools, then you have one big sing-along!

The traditional festival staples are well covered too for big and little kids, with Santa setting up home in Craven Court shopping centre accompanied by his real reindeer, so don’t forget the carrots!

But the real draw for shoppers is the 150 decorated festive stalls, selling locally produced food, hot roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and the like. A good tip is to grab something hot to drink while you explore – keep out the cold and ramp up the festive feeling.

Entertainment will include regular performances from Skipton Brass Band, Barnoldswick Brass Band and the Accrington Pipe Band, as well the Red Hot Santas and a new band to the Christmas Market this year, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners – billed as New Orleans meets 90s club classics.

What’s also good about this event over the two weekends is its blend between the fun, modern entertainment and the classic sense of Christmas, and each day of the festival will round off at 4pm with a torchlight procession up the High Street to Holy Trinity Church where a traditional carol service will be held in the church grounds.

Aside from plenty of town centre parking, the train station has good rail links too from across the county. With two bites of the cherry, it’s an event that blends old and new, meaning the little ones will be as well catered for as the parents too.

“The event attracts visitors from all over the country”

Town Centre Manager, Brett Butler, said: “The event attracts visitors from all over the country – and there are dozens of coaches already booked in on both days. Once again we have been listed
inside the Top Ten Christmas Markets in the UK and we’re very proud of that. As well as the Market, it’s a perfect opportunity for businesses across the Town to showcase what they have to offer and take advantage of pre-Christmas rush.”

The Christmas Market is organised by Skipton Town Council, and is supported with funding from both the Council and the Skipton Town Partnership.

For more information and deals on great days out see welcometoskipton.com