Important note: for 2012 Christmas Markets in West Yorkshire, please see our updated listing here.
Christmas Markets in West Yorkshire
The lead up to Christmas is an exciting time and is extra special in Yorkshire.
There are lots of Christmas markets, fayres, craft fairs and lights switch ons throughout West Yorkshire this year and we’ve outlined many of them below in alphabetical order by town or city including Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Haworth.
And if you’re after Christmas festivities in other parts of Yorkshire, click on the links below:
Christmas Markets in North Yorkshire
Christmas Markets in East Yorkshire
Christmas Markets in South Yorkshire
BATLEY
Annual Craft and Christmas Fair
5 November 2011, 10.00am to 4.00pm
Batley Town Hall, Market Place, Batley WF17 5DA
Admission 50p
Christmas Market
17 November 2011, 10.00am to 8.00pm
The Mill Department Store, Bradford Rd, Batley WF17 5LZ
Handmade crafts, festive decorations, gifts, etc. at this open-air market
Batley Switch On
1 December
Batley Town Centre
With stalls & seasonal entertainment
BIRDSEDGE
Christmas Craft Fair
13 November 2011, 10am to 4pm
Birdsedge Village Hall, Penistone Road, Birdsedge, Huddersfield HD8 8XP
Free admission
BIRSTALL
Christmas Craft Fair
27 November, 4 & 11 December 2011 – 11am to 4pm
Oakwell Hall Country Park, Nutter Lane, Birstall WF17 9LG
BRADFORD
Bradford Christmas Market
4 December 2011
Darley Street, Kirkgate, Bank Street and Tyrell Street, Bradford
More than 30 stalls with lots of Christmas gifts for every member of the family – in addition, there will be some terrific Christmas food on offer.
CLAYTON
Clayton Dickensian Market
3rd December 2011 – 11am to 5.00pm
Clayton Lane, Clayton, Bradford BD14 6RE
Around 100 stalls with a variety of, gifts, decorations, jewellery, tombola, old-fashioned sweets, roast chestnuts, toys, mince pies, etc.
Opened by players from Bradford Bulls followed by crowning of the Snow Queen.
Entertainment from pipers, magicians, nativity play, stilt walkers, carols from the award winning children’s choir, Morris dancers, local Punch & Judy, carnival games, fairground rides, jugglers, a climbing wall, miniature pony and carriage.
See the Clayton Dickensian Market website here.
CLECKHEATON
Christmas Crafts, Gifts & Baked Goods Fair
5th November 2011 from 1pm to 4pm
Cleckheaton Our Lady & St Paul RC Church Hall, 57 Dewsbury Rd, Cleckheaton BD19 5BT
Christmas Market
12 November 2011 10am to 1pm
Opened by Robbie Hunter-Paui and with 30 stalls, games, toys, Santa’s grotto, tombola, books, cakes, plants, face-painting, teddy pull cards. Café.
Admission 50p
Cleckheaton Christmas Lights Switch On
19 November 2011 from 1pm
Savoy Square, Cleckheaton BD19 3RH
A traditional festive occasion with Santa and his reindeer. A Christmas grotto, parade and scout band, donkey rides, funfair amusements. Stalls with gifts and crafts and £500 prize draw. The big switch on is at 6pm.
DENBY DALE
EKassionS Christmas Gift Fair
5th November 2011 – 10.00am to 12.00pm
Denby Dale Pie Hall, 297 Wakefield Rd, Denby Dale HD8 8RX
Free admission and free parking
DEWSBURY
Dewsbury Switch On
26 November
Dewsbury Town Centre
With stalls & yuletide entertainment
HAREWOOD HOUSE
Living North Essence of Christmas Fair
25 and 26 November 2011 from 10am to 5pm
27 November 2011 from 11am to 4pm
The Courtyard, Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG
A market and food & drink exhibition with the very best produce from Yorkshire, with Santa’s Grotto and Toyshop in the Geopods. There will be demonstrations in the Old Kitchen and Servants’ Hall ‘Below Stairs’ inside Harewood House, plus treasures from the House collections on display in the ‘State Rooms’. Festive refreshments, food and meals will be available at a number of outlets. The Gardens will be open for winter-time wandering with Christmas trails and walks for children.
Prices: entry to the Shopping Fair, Grounds and Below Stairs: £8.00 (Concessions £6)
Harewood Members and children under 12: free
Upgrade to visit the State Rooms: £4 on the day
Santa’s Grotto: £7.50 per child – includes a Harewood gift
For further information, please see Harewood House’s website here
HAWORTH
Haworth Christmas Market
19 & 20 November 2011
Main Street, Haworth
20-25 stalls, with seasonal gifts – something for everyone
HECKMONDWIKE
Heckmondwike Christmas Lights Switch On
20 November 2011 from 5pm
Heckmondwike Market Place, Heckmondwike WF16 OHB
Heckmondwike was the first town in the country to switch on Christmas lights (it can be traced back to 1868) it’s said that “no one does it better”.
Santa’s grotto and fairground rides, plus entertainment and the “big countdown” all help to create the perfect atmosphere for one and all to enjoy the great excitement of Heckmondwike’s traditional Christmas heritage.
The lights will be switched on at 6.45pm.
HOLMFIRTH
Christmas Gift Fair
19 November 2011 – from 10am to 4pm
Holmfirth Civic Hall, Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3AS
Over 30 high quality gift and craft stalls. Refreshments served all day
Supporting BBC Children in Need and Huddersfield Downs Syndrome Support Group.
Holmfirth Lights Switch On
19 November 2011 – from 2pm
Festive fun, music, Santa’s Grotto, judging of window displays, Christmas food & drink plus celebrity parade.
5.30 – The Big Switch On!
6.00pm – fireworks and closing events
Christmas Gift & Craft Fair
27 November 2011 – from 10am to 4pm
Holmfirth Community Sports Centre, Heys Rd, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth HD9 7SE
Christmas shopping at Holmfirth Market
27 November, 4 & 11 December 2011 – from 10am to 5pm
Holmfirth Market, 38 Huddersfield Rd, Holmfirth HD9 3JH
Just about everything you need for a successful Christmas celebration with a wide selection of seasonal fresh foods and hand-made crafts including gifts, cards, decorations, jewellery, clothing, basketry, embroidery, soaps, flowers, photography, glassware, sculpture, paintings and lots, lots, more.
HONLEY
Honley Christmas Lights Switch On
2 December 2011 from 3pm to 7pm +
Honley Village Hall, Roundway, Honley, Holmfirth HD9 6DE
Bands, Window Display Judging, Choirs, Stalls, Festive Fun & Music, Santa’s Grotto, Festive Fare including Food & Drink, Hog Roast
St Mary’s Christmas Street Market
3 December 2011 from 3pm to 7pm +
Honley St Mary Parish Church, Church St, Honley, Holmfirth HD9 6BA
Food and drink and dozens of stalls with something for everyone.
Free entertainment in St Mary’s Church with Jill Kemp & Grange Moor Band and Swing of Things.
HUDDERSFIELD
Huddersfield Christmas Lights Switch On
19 November 2011 from 4.30pm – 6.30pm
The Piazza Centre, Princess Alexandra Walk, Huddersfield HD1 2RS
Entertainment for all the family – and a great way to kick off the festive season.
It all starts at 4.30 with the Pulse Radio Roadshow, with dancers and entertainers to get everyone in the right mood. Alex Winter of CBeebies is this year’s celebrity, so he’s guaranteed to be a hit with the younger members of the crowd. Alex will be entertaining the crowds throughout the evening, and pressing the big red button at 6.20pm to light up the town.
Christmas Craft Fair at Parkwood Methodist Church
19 December 2011 from 10am to 3pm
Parkwood Methodist Church, Parkwood Rd, Longwood, Huddersfield HD3 4TT
Craft and Christmas gifts stalls, with refreshments available all day.
Huddersfield Festival of Light
2, 3 & 4 December 2011
St George’s Square, Huddersfield
The main show, K@osmos, will be performed by Spanish/Argentinean performers Grupo Puja. This amazing free show will be performed at 7.30pm on the 3rd and 4th December.
There’ll also be a Winter Food & Drink Market, the Christmas Art Market, traditional funfair, ice skating, and live performances and installations in various venues throughout the town centre.
The Festival will finish with a firework display at around 5pm on the Sunday in St George’s Square – read more about it here and check them out on Facebook here.
Winter Wonderland Christmas Fair
3 December 2011 from 10am to 4pm
Cathedral House, St Thomas Rd, Huddersfield HD1 3LG
ILKLEY
Christmas Shopping Fair
1 December, 6-9pm
The Craiglands Hotel, Cowpasture Road, Ilkley LS29 8RQ
Speciality Fairs presents a Christmas market at the Craiglands Hotel – a superb opportunity to unearth that special gift for your loved ones, complement your party frock with a wonderful new handbag or accessory or perhaps be inspired by some fabulous new Christmas decorations for the home.
LEEDS
Leeds Lights Switch On
Victoria Gardens (outside Leeds Art Gallery), The Headrow
Thursday 10 November 2011 – entertainment starts from 6.45pm, hosted by Real Radio with family fun for everyone on the stage, featuring a fantastic mix of:
- Special celebrity guests
- Live bands
- Local sporting heroes
- Your favourite Panto characters
- a Santa show
- a selection of fairground rides
The wonderful evening of entertainment all builds to the “big switch on” of one of Britain’s grandest and most impressive city centre Christmas illumination displays, complete with a superb firework display which alights the sky across the whole city.
Christkindelmarkt, Millennium Square, Leeds
Friday 11 November – Sunday 18 December
10.30am to 9.30pm* Monday to Saturday
10.30am – 7.30pm Sundays
*some stalls stay open until 10.30pm (alcohol last orders at 10:15pm)
A superb German market in the heart of Leeds city centre – read more here.
Leeds Caribbean Christmas Fair
Sat 26 November 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sun 27 November 10:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Northern Ballet, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7PA
Read more about the Leeds Caribbean Christmas Fair here.
LINDLEY
Lindley Lights Switch On
6 December 2011 – 6pm
Lidget Street, Lindley, Huddersfield
Fun, food and late night shopping – great for all the family.
MARSDEN
Standedge Christmas Craft Fair
12 & 13 November 2011 from 10am to 4pm
Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre, Waters Rd, Marsden HD7 6NQ
Local artists showcase their festive offerings. And if you want a break from shopping, why not try a guided boat trip through Standedge Tunnel – tickets £4.50 for over-16s, £3.50 for 5-15s, free for under 5s. Concessions available. Last trip at 3pm.
Admission free
Read more about the Standedge Christmas Craft Fair here.
Marsden Christmas Fair
26 November 2011 from 10.45am to 4pm
Marsden Parochial Hall, Clough Lea, Marsden, Huddersfield HD7 6DN
Stalls with books, gifts, jewellery, Christmas decorations, Phoenix cards, crafts, chocolates & sweets, home-made cakes, jams & pickles. Lunches. Refreshments served throughout the day. Grand raffle and tombola. Official opening at 11am.
OTLEY
Victorian Fayre
11 December 2011 – 12.00 to 18.00
Kirkgate, Boroughgate & Bay Horse Court, Otley
Over 80 stalls plus an indoor handmade craft area in the Black Horse Stable Yard. With street entertainers, dancers, a troupe of traditional Mummers, children from 5 local schools singing carols and Christmas songs, adult choirs, reindeer, Punch & Judy, hog roasts, street food and lots more.
Admission free
Read more about the Otley Victorian Fayre here and check out their Facebook page here.
ROBERTTOWN
Christmas Lights & Victorian Evening
25 November 2011 from 5.45pm
Roberttown Village Centre, Roberttown Lane, Roberttown WF15 7LE
Victorian theme in shops throughout the village, Santa’s grotto, church choir, youth band, free mince pies and drinks at Jubilee Garden. And then the lights switch on.
SALTAIRE
Saltaire Local Produce Market
17 December
Caroline Street car park, Victoria Rd, Saltaire
A great opportunity to buy locally sourced goods in time for Christmas. See what some of the region’s best local producers can provide to make your Christmas a really special one.
SHIPLEY
Shipley Christmas Market
9 & 10 December
Shipley Market Square
Right next to Shipley Open Market, with an additional 20-25 stalls with some terrific seasonal treats – something for all the family to enjoy.
If your Christmas Market or Fair does not appear above, please get in touch and we’ll add it.
And if you need holiday accommodation in West Yorkshire, find Leeds hotels or guest houses in Haworth on Hello Yorkshire.
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