Barrow AFC is hoping to see the community come together at its new town centre Christmas Market.
The football club is set to host the free-to-attend event in the courtyard of the town hall on Duke Street on Friday December 6 from 4pm until 9pm.
Attendees can expect everything from live music to seasonal food and drink stalls, local vendors selling products ideal for Christmas gifts and festive activities for all ages.
The club is working in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council and Barrow Business Improvement District to host the market.
Players and First Team manager Stephen Clemence will also be getting involved throughout the day to do giveaways and support the wider event.
Live music and performances on the day will include English indie-soul band Skinny Living, Walney Musical Theatre Company, local school choirs, carollers and more.
Santa along with children’s television character Bluey will also be at the event for meet and greets with families.
The club has previously hosted Christmas markets in its grounds, but this year, organisers chose the Town Hall courtyard in an effort to bring more of the community together in the heart of the town.
Alisha Henry, chief operating officer at Barrow AFC, said: “We were talking as a club about putting something on for Christmas to give back to the community, and we thought why not put a Christmas market in the heart of the community.
“It would be easy enough to put it in the football club, but that’s not what it’s for, it’s for the people of Barrow to come together and get into the town centre.”
Alisha said that organisers are feeling positive about the market and its line up and that they are hoping to see it become an annual event in the town centre.
She added: “It’s all full steam ahead right now and there is some nerves because it’s the first time we’ve done a Christmas market outside the club, as for the last few years we’ve done it in our grounds.
“So this is the first year we’re doing it outside the club and making it that bit bigger and better. The team are working everyday with local suppliers and business just to make it as great as it can be.
“We’ve got local singers, a theatre group, an up-and-coming band, stallholders that will cover a wide range of things and we’ve got all the players involved to bring everyone together.
“We’ll also have activities like darts games so you can come and try to beat the players at darts and we’ve got Christmas karaoke, penalty shootout, inflatable games and more, so there’s something for everyone and Cando FM are going to be there all night too.
“When we’ve held the Christmas markets in our grounds we normally attract football fans, which is fantastic, but we want to reach other people outside the club who maybe aren’t football fans too, so we can show them what we can do for the community as a club.”
