Christmas will return with a bang this week in Kirkby Lonsdale with a four-day festive fair.
Organisers have been working all year on the fair, which starts on Thursday and features a full programme of activities and events for all the family.
There is a Christmas Charter market on Thursday December 1 from 9am to 3pm, then the bric a brac at St Mary’s Church is open 10am to 6pm on Friday, 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 12.30pm to 4.30pm on Sunday.
The chalet village is open 4pm to 8pm on Friday, 10am to 7pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. This year, the chalet village is extending into the The Snooty Fox’s garden – follow Santa’s footprints from the Chalet Stage for more Christmas shopping!
The Christmas lights switch-on will start in St Mary’s Churchyard at 5.30pm (arrive early to get a costume and a lantern!) with candlelight poems and carols with the Save Ruskins View Fund and St Mary’s Primary School.
The community will process down Main Street with Kirkby Lonsdale Brass Band and giant light-up puppets to Market Square where Santa and Scrooge will turn on the Christmas tree at 6.15pm.
Late night shopping will be available until 8pm and there is a teenager’s silent disco in the yurt in St Mary’s Churchyard from 7pm.
The Santa Parade is back on Saturday at 3pm for the first time since 2019 – organised by Mark Nelson, owner of The Card Gallery and membership secretary for the chamber of trade – and more than 30 local businesses and community groups are taking part.
Santa and Scrooge will lead the parade, along with local dance school Curious Dance Academy, Lancaster based drummers Batala and singing group South Lakes Acapella. Santa’s Grotto will open in St Mary’s Churchyard straight after the parade for presents to meet the man in the red suit (4pm to 6pm).
Santa’s grotto will be open all day Sunday along with elf crafts and games (11am to 4pm) and there will be free alpaca petting on Saturday and Sunday 11am to 2pm.
There is a whole line-up of music over the weekend, organised by local musician Dave Sapsford, and a carol concert by Kirkby Lonsdale Singers and Sing Joyfully on Sunday at 4pm in St Mary’s Church. The Christmas weekend will finish with a final celebration with a live music and quiz night at Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club (7.30pm to 11pm).
It has been organised by Kirkby Lonsdale & Lune Valley Community Interest Company, which said it could not go ahead without the support of local funders, including Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council, Kirkby Lonsdale Chamber of Trade, The Snooty Fox, The Christopher Robins Trust, Booths and The Royal Hotel.
High street businesses have also sponsored live music for the event.
The full programme is available at the Information & Gift Shop, 29 Main Street, Kirkby Lonsdale and online: https://kirkbylonsdale.info/christmas-fair-2022/
Phoebe Rodway, marketing and events manager at Kirkby Lonsdale CIC, said: “The whole town is really excited for the event, and I know that people are particularly looking forward to the Santa Parade as it hasn’t happened for the last few years. The best part about organising the event has been collaborating with enthusiastic people throughout the community and bringing the true spirit of Kirkby Lonsdale to life!”
