Christmas extended in York – St Nicholas Fair to last best part of a month
They say Christmas gets longer every year. Well this time, they’re right – it’s been increased from four days to more than three weeks.
Or at least York’s famous Christmas market has. For the first time in its 23-year history St Nicholas Fair will run for 25 days, from Thursday, November 27 to Sunday, December 21 .
The council announced the extension today (Friday, May 23) after last year’s fair saw record city centre footfall.
“With high quality Christmas markets on offer for the month before Christmas, we have decided to extend the St Nicholas Fair brand to that period so shoppers can enjoy an even better experience by having almost four weeks to visit, rather than just one long weekend.
“The fair is a major contributor to the city’s economy, to the city’s diverse retail and events offer,” said Cllr Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism.
She said there will be a bigger build-up to Christmas this year with increased marketing and promotion, including a “grand opening weekend” across the city centre.
Mega market
The fair will see a rolling a rolling programme of different market stalls, with themed weeks of speciality stall featuring food and toys.
As before, wooden huts will line Parliament Street with a traditional carousel in St Sampson’s Square.
Stall holders, some dressed in Victorian costume, will sell gifts including jewellery, ceramics, food and drink and decorations for Christmas.
Other markets will complement the fair, including the daily Newgate Market, the Made In Yorkshire art and craft market at the Guildhall, the Medieval Market at Barley Hall and an arts and crafts market at St William’s College.
St Nicholas Fair will be open from 9am until 6pm daily.
Any additional traders wanting to take part are invited to make expressions of interest by May 31 to City of York Council’s market office on 01904 551355 or email [email protected].