Christmas Markets in North Yorkshire
The build up to Christmas is always an exciting time, and it’s extra special in Yorkshire.
There are dozens of Christmas fayres, markets, lights switch ons and craft fairs in North Yorkshire – including the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors – this year and we’ve listed a host of them below in alphabetical order by city or town including Harrogate, York, Knaresborough, Grassington and Ripon.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for Christmas markets & fayres in other parts of Yorkshire, please see the links below:
Christmas Markets West Yorkshire
Christmas Markets South Yorkshire
Christmas Markets East Yorkshire
BEDALE
Christmas Extravaganza Bedale Hall
3 December 2011 from 10am to 4pm
Bedale Hall, Bedale DL8 1AA
Shopping Fayre, Ice rink, carol singers, street entertainers and lots more.
Lights switch on at 5.30pm
CASTLE HOWARD
Artsmix – Christmas Contemporary Art Market
27 November 2011 from 10am to 4pm
Stable Courtyard, Castle Howard, York YO60 7DA
A unique and delightful selection of handmade design, art and contemporary craft – the ideal place to uncover unusual Christmas gift ideas.
Free admission and parking.
“Made in Yorkshire” Christmas Craft & Produce Market
28 & 29 November and 5 & 6 December from 10am to 4pm
Stable Courtyard, Castle Howard, York YO60 7DA
Situated in Castle Howard’s Stable Courtyard, over 20 stalls selling the very best Yorkshire produce and expertly hand-crafted gifts.
Free entry and parking, further info here on Castle Howard’s website.
DANBY
Brigantia Present Yorkshire Yule
18 November to 7 December 2011 from 11am to 4pm
The Moors National Park Centre, Lodge Lane, Danby, Whitby YO21 2NB
A veritable seasonal feast of arts & crafts, ranging from the contemporary to the traditional. This exhibition includes stained glass, pottery, jewellery, felt, photography, woven goods and more.
Admission free.
Victorian Christmas Craft Fair
19 and 20 November 2011 from 10.30am to 4.30pm
The Moors National Park Centre, Lodge Lane, Danby, Whitby YO21 2NB
Over 35 stalls of arts, crafts and gifts including wooden items, ceramics, jewellery, willow wreaths, pickles, cheese and honey sourced from in or around the North York Moors National Park. Organ fairground music, outdoor trails, pony-trap rides, a visit from Father Christmas, and craft-making activities for the kids ensure this is a popular event for the whole family.
Free entry to Christmas Craft Fair, Visitor Centre and Seeing Santa – other activities may incur a charge.
EASINGWOLD
Annual Craft Fair
13 November 2011 from 10am to 4pm
Galtres Centre, Easingwold, York YO61 3AE
Refreshments available all day
Admission: adults 50p, children free
Easingwold Christmas Charity Market
3 December 2011 from 9am to 1pm
Market Place, Easingwold, York YO61 3AA
Selection of great stalls selling Christmas decorations and stationery, handmade knitted clothes, cakes, preserves, bacon butties and hot dogs, minced pies, mulled wine.
Raffles, tombola, plus the Easingwold Choir and Easingwold School Sax Quartet.
Free admission and parking, this event is in aid of local charities.
GRANTLEY
Grantley Christmas Shopping Extravaganza
29 November 2011 – 3pm – 7.30pm
Grantley Village Hall, Grantley, Ripon HG4 3PJ
Admission £2 – inc free mince pie & hot drink (tea/coffee/mulled wine)
In aid of Fountains Playgroup & Preschool
With stalls selling jams, cakes, hand-painted Christmas baubles from Kashmir, children’s clothing, handmade soaps, beauty products, jewellery, handbags, home furnishings, toys, cards and stationery and much more. Plus tombola.
GRASSINGTON
Grassington Dickensian Festival
3, 10, 17 December 2011 – all day
Grassington, North Yorkshire
Go back in time to an earlier era – it’s like opening the pages of a Charles Dickens’ novel and finding the characters come alive. With Christmas lights and decorations, the village square and surrounding streets become magically transformed into a traditional Victorian market, as shopkeepers, stallholders, villagers and visitors dress up in period costume. Entertainment from dancers, musicians, street performers, and with exhibitions of traditional local country crafts. And there’ll be an ice rink from 16th to 18th December – check for times and prices.
Check out the Grassington Dickensian Festival website here.
HARROGATE
Crafts for Christmas
10 – 13 November 2011
Thu-Sat: 9.00am – 5.00pm Sun: 9.00am – 4.00pm
The Yorkshire Event Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Wetherby Road, Harrogate HG2 8PW
Tickets in advance: adults £7.00, seniors £6.00 (60p transaction fee) from here.
On the door: adults £8.00, seniors £7.00, children free, students £4.00 with NUS card
Parking: FREE
Harrogate Christmas Lights Switch-On at Victoria Shopping Centre
Thursday 17 Nov 2011 at 6 pm
Victoria Centre Piazza, Harrogate
Free entry
HAWES
Annual “Turning on” of the Christmas lights
2 December 2011 from 1.30pm
Market Place, Hawes
It all kicks off at 1.30 in the Market House with the Children’s Party, then at 4.00 community carol sing-a-long led by Rev. Janet Park accompanied by the Hawes Prize Silver band.
At 4.30 Father Christmas arrives and the Hawes Christmas lights are switched on.
HOVINGHAM
Hovingham Village Market
5 November, 3 & 17 December
Award-winning community market with 40 stalls selling food and crafts
KNARESBOROUGH
Knaresborough Carol Service & Christmas Lights Switch On
2 December – 7 pm
Market Square, Knaresborough
Carol service with music from Knaresborough Silver Band, plus a visit from Santa. The Mayor will be on hand to switch on the lights of the Christmas tree.
Refreshments available.
Knaresborough Christmas Fair
3 December -10.00am to 4.00pm
4 December – 12.00noon to 4.00pm
Methodist Church Centre, Gracious Street
Gifts, crafts, books, cards & gift tags, cakes, preserves – plus a children’s Present Room for kids to choose their own gift and have it wrapped just for them, ready for Christmas Day.
With a café open the whole time serving mince pies, cakes, hot drinks, and “soup and a sweet” lunches.
Knaresborough Christmas Market
Saturday & Sunday, 3 & 4 December
Market Square, Knaresborough
Local cheeses, meats and game from traditional butchers, freshly baked bread, delicious Christmas cake and Christmas puds, and winter toffees, local fudge, and sweets that bring back a taste of childhood. And lots more culinary delights too!
There will be carol singing by local church members, fabulous Morris dancing from local dancers, young musicians from Knaresborough’s schools and festive songs from the choral society, all accompanied by a big brass band.
And at 4.30 on Sunday watch a superb Firework Spectacular.
Knaresborough Christmas Market website
LIGHTWATER VALLEY
Lightwater Shopping Village Dickensian Festival
Lightwater Valley, North Stainley, Ripon HG4 3HT
Thursday – Sunday 1 – 4 December 2011
10:00am – 5:00pm every day
Free entry & free parking
Rated one of the top 10 Christmas Markets in the UK by the Daily Telegraph, this fabulous five-day festival has more than 75 stalls displaying one of the most extensive ranges of Christmas fare, gifts and decorations, all accompanied by a lovely festive atmosphere. Ideal for wonderful stocking fillers, quality hats, handmade jewellery, glassware, bespoke fine art and other Yorkshire crafts.
Yorkshire is famous for having some of the finest food in the UK and this festival boasts an array of stalls with some of the best Yorkshire produce – cheeses, meats, wines and beers.
And there’s some great entertainment laid on too:
- Birds of Prey
- Jazz Band
- Barrel Organ
- Victorian Flea Circus
- Fire Eaters
- Stilt Walkers
- Santa’s Grotto
- Carol Singers
- Handbell Ringers
- Punch & Judy show
- Terrific Local Choirs
And if all of this tires you out, why not chill out and enjoy some wonderful food at the Granary Restaurant – unless you’ve already had your fill after all those roast chestnuts, hog roast and mulled wine, and . . . . . in fact, there’s just so much to describe, you would be better coming along to discover it all for yourself!
Further info on the Lightwater Valley website here.
MASHAM
Victorian Christmas Fair
10 December 2011
NEWTON-ON-OUSE
A Christmas Fair
19-20 November 2011 from 10.30am to 4pm
Christmas produce, jewellery, cards, gifts, plants, Santa’s Grotto.
Refreshments including light lunches.
Admission: adults £1, children free
NORTHALLERTON
Northallerton Christmas Fayre
2 December 2011 from 5.00 pm to 9.00pm
The Fleece Inn, 89 High Street, Northallerton DL7 8PP
Gifts and more – children welcome
Northallerton Christmas Late Night Shopping
2 December 2011 from 5.30pm
High Street, Northallerton
Lights switch on at 6.00pm and Santa arrives outside Barkers Department Store at 6.30pm
RIPLEY CASTLE
Christmas Fair at Ripley Castle
9 – 11 December 2011
Ripley Castle, Harrogate HG3 3AY
See the family home of Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby decorated ready for Christmas and buy gifts for your loved ones in the perfect setting. And you can dine out in style with two restaurants in the Castle’s East Wing.
There’s a free car park in the nearby village of Ripley with a minibus service to and from the Castle. Disabled parking onsite, and pick-up service for heavy packages.
Tickets, £5 online (with a free £5 voucher valid on any stall) from here, £7 by phone (01634 226 203).
No pushchairs or dogs, unfortunately. Backpacks for baby available for use at no cost.
Book timed sessions at 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 1pm or 2pm each day.
RIPON
Ripon Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair
19 November 2011 from 10am to 4pm
Ripon Cathedral, Minster Rd, Ripon HG4 1QT
More than 70 stalls with gifts for all the family, homemade Christmas cakes, food and wine tastings, Santa’s Grotto, tombola, raffle, face-painting and other children’s activities.
Refreshments including mulled wine, tea & coffee, soft drinks, turkey sandwiches (hot!), mince pies and other homemade cakes, all in the gorgeous setting of Ripon Cathedral.
Admission £2.50, accompanied children go free
SKIPTON
Skipton’s Yuletide Festival & Christmas Market 2011
4 & 11 December from 10am to 4pm
High Street, Skipton
Skipton, the “Gateway to the Dales”, will be holding Yuletide Markets & Festivals on the first two Sundays of December down the whole length of its remarkable High Street (which in 2009 was named Britain’s Best Street in the UK).
But it won’t just be the stalls and the well-renowned breadth of independent shops that makes these Christmas events two of the best in Yorkshire, as there will also be loads of superb entertainment, with music from the Skipton Brass Band, Accrington Pipe Band, Barnoldswick Brass Band and Nelson Brass Band.
A fabulous experience throughout the year, shopping in Skipton is particularly special at Christmas. There are two department stores and many famous brand names, plus an abundance of restaurants and cafés to rest those weary legs when it’s time to take a break.
In addition to the Market in the High Street, there will be lots of other Christmas entertainment in various locations throughout the Skipton, and the celebrations will end at 4pm with a procession from the High Street to Holy Trinity Church on both days of the Festival for a traditional carol service in the grounds.
Skipton Yuletide Festival website
THIRSK
Thirsk Christmas Fayre & Market
25 – 27 November 2011
It all starts on the 25th at 5pm, with kids’ rides late night shopping. The Christmas Lights Switch On is at 7pm. To keep everything in the right festive mood there’ll be a hog roast and a Spanish Shack van, carol singing, music from the Thirsk British Legion Brass Band and the Thirsk Bagpipe Band (who will lead a Lantern Parade at 6.30pm) – and you may even catch a glimpse of Santa. On Saturday it’s an all-day affair (9am to 9pm) and there’ll also be a Yorkshire Food Market, kids’ rides (from 11am), Rural arts, a live reindeer pen and Santa’s grotto, balloons for sale, and bell ringers. Sunday is from 10am to 7pm and another full day of festive activities.
UPPER POPPLETON
Christmas Craft Fair
27 November 2011, 10am-3pm
Poppleton Centre, Main Street, Upper Poppleton, York, North Yorkshire YO26 6JT
Popular Christmas fair with local crafts, handmade gifts and lots of stalls selling unusual ideas for Christmas presents. Cups of tea and home-baked cakes also on offer!
YORK
Winter Wonderland
17 November 2011 – 17.00 to 21.00
Parliament Street, York YO1 8SE
Santa’s Grotto, children’s fairground, late-night shopping, festive bar, big Christmas lights switch-on at 8pm by the Bogus Brothers
St Nicholas Fair – Craft Event
24 – 26 November 2011 from 10.00 to 16.00
Quilt Museum and Gallery, St Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PW
St Nicholas Fayre
24 to 27 November 2011 from 9.30am to 5.30pm
Parliament Street/St Sampson’s Sq/Coppergate, York YO1 7HB
Admission free
St Nicholas Fayre at Barley Hall
24 to 27 November 2011 from 10am to 5pm
Barley Hall, 2 Coffee Yard, York, YO1 8AR
Craftsmen & traders dressed in medieval apparel gather to sell their wares. Living history and unique gifts included, whilst you can also sample traditional ale and wine at the bar.
Discounted admissions prices: £2 adult, £1 concessions, £5 family of four, Ticket is valid throughout the Fayre (but do not include the exhibition from Hamlet to Hollywood).
Tenth Century Traders
25-27 November 2011 from 10am to 4pm
St Sampsons Square, York, YO1 8RN
Friendly Vikings from all over the world come together to trade – items on sale include jewellery, costumes, belts, shoes, weapons, bowls, tankards, chests, lanterns and pottery.
Made in Yorkshire Crafts Market
1 – 18 December 2011 from 9am to 5pm
St Sampsons Square, York YO1 8RN
Featuring some of the finest art & crafts in the county including ceramics, paintings, glass, textiles and woodwork – everything created within Yorkshire’s boundaries.
York’s Festive Fayre
3 – 18 December 2011 from 9.30am to 7.30pm
Parliament Street, York YO1 8SE
Celebrate Christmas traditions with music and decorated wooden huts at York’s Festive Fayre.
Lots of unusual gifts on sale and the setting makes Christmas shopping a delight – afterwards relax at the Festive Inne where you can enjoy a glass of Winter Pimms.
Santa & his Reindeer come to Monks Cross
4 December 2011 – 12.00 to 16.00
Monks Cross Drive, Huntington, York YO32 9GX
In aid of the Give a Gift charity campaign (on behalf of The Salvation Army and York Women’s Refuge this year)
York Festive Farmers Market
21 Dec 2011 09:00 to 16:00
Parliament Street, York YO1 8SE
Free entry
York’s Farmers Market takes place once a month throughout the year, but it is particularly special at Christmas as everybody pulls out all the stops. There’ll be venison, ostrich, home-grown organic vegetables, organic lamb burgers, locally produced cheeses, and fantastic Yorkshire Punch – practically everything required to turn Christmas dinner into a superb Yuletide feast!
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland – and the Ice Factor
26 November 2011 to 8 January 2012
York Designer Outlet, Saint Nicholas Avenue, Fulford, York YO19 4TA
Festive market, traditional fair rides, illuminated forest with reindeer, log cabins and the brilliant award-winning outdoor ice rink, the Ice Factor. 120 leading high street and designer brands, heated Ice Bar & Café. Free parking.
Tickets from Ticketweb 0844 847 1523 or 01653 619 169
If your Christmas Fayre or Market does not appear above, please get in touch.
And if you need North Yorkshire holiday accommodation, find York hotels or guest houses in Harrogate on Hello Yorkshire.
And whilst you’re in the festive mood, check out these Christmas pantos in North Yorkshire.
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