Great things happening in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounds in the lead up to Christmas 2018!

There’s always fun and excitement in December, as everywhere, with Christmas trees appearing, along with the usual Christmas decorations. Carols wafting on the breeze as you wander round the towns and just a general hum getting louder as the big day approaches!

To get in to the spirit things there are always Christmas markets to be found. Harrogate Christmas Market, always very popular with over two hundred stalls of food and drink, crafts and Christmas gifts. Santa and his reindeers will be making an entrance and there will be a children’s funfair. Admission free and held on The Stray in the Montpellier Quarter but you’ll have to hurry as it’s held on Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th November 2018.

Ripon will be holding it’s annual Christmas and gift and food fair on Saturday 24 November, this greatest of all Christmas Fairs in Yorkshire is held in Ripon’s magnificent cathedral, £3 entry, children free. For the first time ever you’ll be able to meet Santa at Mother’s Shipton Cave in Knaresborough and choose from wonderful array of gifts in his Toy Shop. Tickets can be purchased ONLINE ONLY, selected dates and times from 24th November to 23rd December. For more information visit www.mothershipton.co.uk.

For something a little different on 25 November you can join the Wensleydale Railway’s very own Helen Ashworth on a very special wreath making train! Helen will guide you through how to make your very own wreath using a wide range of foliage collected from around the Yorkshire Dales and along our line as you travel up to Redmire and back. During your journey you will be served a glass of mulled wine and mince pie to get you into the festive spirit! At the end of your journey you will have a beautiful wreath to take home with you. To book tickets please go to their website The Wensleydale Railway or call 01677 425805 (and save the booking fee!) You’ll find lots of other Wensleydale Railway Christmas Events on here to enjoy too!

Leyburn Christmas Festival takes place in the Market Place on 1st December 2018. Entertainment, community carols, marquee with stalls selling lots of Christmas goodies. oh yes and Santa will be joining us for the day!

This year the annual Richmond Town Christmas Market is being held on Sunday 2nd December from 10am – 4pm. As per previous years, this is a free Christmas event for all the family to enjoy, an eclectic mix of stalls and market areas, selling local produce, handcrafted goods, food stalls, as well as original inspirational Christmas gift ideas. Everything wil be located either in and around the town Market Place, inside the Town Hall (Chic Vintique Market), and inside the Indoor Market.

The Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes will be host to the Young Voices Choir is a group of local children who love singing in harmony, learning together for their own and others enjoyment. Their ages range from 5 to 15 years and any funds raised at their concerts helps to provide each singer with music copies. Shop local produce and artists in our Visitor Centre like Lucy Pittaway, Alex Clark, Stuart Clarkson, Barn Craft and amazing food producers like Masons Gin, Black Sheep Brewery, Yorkshire Flapjack and of course our award-winning selection of cheese.

This is just perhaps a small selection of things going on from the end of November and into December but if you’re not here you’ll miss anyway! If you want to join in the fun, give us a call on 01969 663559 or book your holiday on line, we always love to hear from you.