The countdown to Christmas in Carlisle has begun.
A 40ft Christmas tree and thousands of sparkling festive lights are now in place in the city centre.
A programme of events is available alongside free parking in city centre Carlisle City Council car parks on late night Thursdays.
A series of markets, Santa Grottos, festivals, craft events and much more will be held as the festive season draws near.
Councillor Stephen Higgs, portfolio holder for culture, heritage and leisure, said: “There are some wonderful festive events being organised in Carlisle this Christmas, and I hope that they help bring our community together to celebrate. The Christmas Tree and lights in the city centre provide a perfect backdrop for some Christmas shopping and for spending time with friends and family.”
The festive Carlisle programme includes:
Late Night Shopping
Every Thursday between 2 December and 23 December.
Carlisle City Council will be supporting the local high street by providing Free after 3pm parking on Late Night Thursdays.
Starting on Thursday 2 December, the free parking scheme will be available in the following Carlisle City Council car parks: Bitts Park, Caldew Riverside; Castle; Lowther Street; The Sands Centre; Swifts Bank, Viaduct and West Walls.
The offer will be available on December 2, 9, 16 and 23.
The Free after 3pm scheme aims to support high street businesses in Carlisle by encouraging more visitors to park, stay local and shop local.
The car park barriers in Caldew Riverside, Castle and West Walls will close at 11pm on each Late Night Thursday.
If you are using West Walls Car Park check in/check out service on the Late Night Thursdays, ensure you check out by 3pm to take advantage of the free after 3pm offer.
Visit Santa at The Lanes
Visit Santa and his elves at The Lanes Grotto this year.
The grotto, in Centre Square is open every Saturday and Sunday from 27 November up to and including 19 December between 11am and 2.30pm.
This year the grotto will be raising funds for Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw Children’s Hospice. There is a recommended donation of £3 per child which will be donated in its entirety to the charities.
Opening dates: Saturday 27 November; Sunday 28 November; Saturday 4 December; Sunday 5 December; Saturday 11 December; Sunday 12 December; Saturday 18 December and Sunday 19 December.
Santa Dash
Sunday 5 December
The city’s annual Santa Dash and Fun Run are festive fun events to raise money for Jigsaw, Cumbria’s only children’s hospice. More information and to enter at sportinaction.co.uk
Carlisle Market Hall Festive Fun Day
Market Hall, Saturday 11 December, 11am to 3pm
Carlisle’s Victorian Covered Market Hall will be filled with Christmas cheer on when it stages its Festive Fun Day. Market traders will be joining in the fun, wearing Christmas themed outfits and festive jumpers.
Santa and friends will be there alongside children’s entertainers.
Old Fire Station: Morgan & West’s Great Big Christmas Magic Show
Saturday 11 December
Time-travelling magicians Morgan & West crash into Christmas with a show full of fabulous family fun, festive frolics and fantastic facial furniture! The dynamic duo deals out a delightful dollop of deception, deftly delivered with a dash of derring-do. Awesomely alliterative acts of amazement await at the Old Fire Station in Carlisle! Fun for all the family in this utterly splendid (and totally silly) Christmas magic extravaganza!
Tullie House Christmas Family Fun Weekend
Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December: 11am – 4pm each day
The museum will be filled with Christmas cheer designed especially with our youngest visitors in mind.
Their woodland Santa’s grotto returns bigger and better than ever. This year you can visit Mr & Mrs Claus to hear how their Christmas preparations are coming along, tell them about yours and give them your Christmas lists.
They will also be making fantastic Christmas crafts, listening to Paddington’s Christmas stories, getting our faces painted and tracking down Santa’s elves on our special trail around the museum.
Santa’s grotto is £10 per child All other activities are free for children. General admission applies to accompanying adults.
