A ceremonial ribbon-cutting service took place on Saturday, 16 November to signal the official opening of Newcastle’s Christmas markets and festivities at Old Eldon Square.
Last Saturday, Newcastle’s Christmas market was officially opened to the public following a service. A red velvet ribbon was positioned at the entrance to the Christmas Markets. Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council did the honours, cutting the ribbon and declaring Newcastle’s Christmas markets officially open.
Newcastle City Council and NE1 have teamed up again this year to deliver this festive programme and to devise plans to scale up the festivities.
What’s in the Christmas market this year?
Another exciting development in this year’s Newcastle’s Christmas Markets is the inclusion of some up-and-coming brands from across the city and the region. More than 35 traditional market stalls have been filled with these local traders and some familiar retail institutions, including department stores, Fenwick and John Lewis represented at the markets for the first time this year. Christmas shopping just got easier and more fun. The newly expanded markets include Wylam Brewery and Newcastle Gin Co., in addition to Elf Workshops, Santa Storytime Sessions, a performance stage for seasonal presentations and a beautiful, vintage fairground carousel as well as some of the finest local street food traders.
The Christmas experience will extend throughout Old Eldon Square, Grey Street and Grainger Street, with stalls alongside the returning Alpine-inspired Moosenwirt bar. Due to popular demand, the area around the Monument has welcomed back Christmas market stalls and plays host to the city’s very own North Pole, a brand new attraction for 2024 with unique igloo pods raised above the stalls. The igloos are available to book to enjoy food and drink in a sensational environment with unparalleled views around Newcastle’s iconic Grainger town.
Grainger Market joins the plans
The Grainger Market once again plays an integral role in Newcastle’s Christmas, with special Sunday openings in December in the run-up to Christmas, and free, family friendly craft activities. There will also be a programme of festive choirs for customers to enjoy, including those from local schools. The expansion of the Christmas activity in the heart of the city marks a major step towards fulfilling the city’s ambitions of becoming a true Christmas destination for local and regional visitors, as well as people from further afield.
Ambitions for the Christmas market
Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council said: “Christmas is a hugely important time in this city, and I am so looking forward to everything on offer this year and seeing our fabulous city centre full of people enjoying it too.
“The new Christmas Village on Old Eldon Square is a welcome addition, especially for families, and alongside the Christmas market, we’re very lucky in this city to have our wonderful Grainger Market full of local traders selling fresh, local products, not just at Christmas, but all year round.
“A vibrant Christmas offer is not only fantastic for local people, it also attracts visitors to the city and provides opportunities for local businesses too. This can only be good for Newcastle as a whole and everyone who lives here as it strengthens our economy, making our city a better place to live”.
Ben Whitfield, Director of Communications at NE1 Ltd said:
“Let the Christmas festivities commence. The unveiling of Fenwick’s Christmas window at the start of the month and the Christmas lights switch on heralds the start of the city’s celebrations, and the excitement is building. We can’t wait to officially open Newcastle’s Christmas Markets and Newcastle’s Christmas Village at Old Eldon Square. There is a huge appetite for Christmas celebrations in Newcastle and for the city to become a major seasonal destination. We are committed to boosting the city’s Christmas offer and have great aspirations for it to continue to expand and improve, to benefit the whole city.”
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