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Harrogate Christmas Market sell out!  4th November 2019

The eighth Harrogate Christmas Market is another total sell-out, with all 200 stalls being booked mostly by Yorkshire-based Traders offering a wide range of British-made gifts, clothes, jewellery, food and drink.

The four-day event runs from Thursday, November 14th to Sunday, November 17th at the bottom of Montpellier Hill. The opening hours are being adjusted slightly to meet increasing demands from Traders, Visitors and Coach Operators – opening one hour longer on Thursday and Friday and closing half an hour earlier on Saturday. This area of the Stray is thankfully NOT water-logged as Harrogate Christmas Market has arranged and paid for remedial spiking and sanding, etc. to improve grass quality since its 2012 event. more...

Buskers wanted for Harrogate Christmas Market - 18th October 2019

7th Harrogate Christmas Market success!

The 2018 Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill and St Mary’s Walk was very successful from almost all points of view.  There were 200 traders, 142 pre-booked coaches and an estimated 80,000 visitors over the four days.

Whilst at times on Saturday some of the aisles were full, the many visitors kept moving along.  Most of the stalls were set back further from the footpaths this year so that visitors could stop and talk to traders without blocking the way for the crowds walking past.  Visitors and traders praised the organisation and layout of the Market in what was a magical setting when the lights came on each evening. more...

Harrogate Christmas Market sold out!

The sixth Harrogate Christmas Market was undoubtedly the most successful since it started in 2012. The very attractive location on St Mary’s Walk at the bottom of Montpellier Hill, was filled with 200 varied stalls offering a wide range of Christmas gifts for house and home, friends and family, together with a variety of food and drink from all over Yorkshire. more...

Congratulations to the winners of this year's first awarding of Certificates for Stall Display. Find a full list here.

The sixth Harrogate Christmas Market is again a total sell-out, with all 200 stalls being booked mostly by

Yorkshire-based Traders offering a wide range of British-made gifts, clothes, jewellery, food and drink.

The four-day event runs from Thursday, November 16 to Sunday, November 19 in the centre of Harrogate.

Organiser Brian Dunsby, who leads the team of volunteers, said, "The positive feedback from last year's

traders made us think we would have high demand again this year, but it has once again exceeded all

expectations. This enables us to be very selective about our traders, so we choose those who are based in

or near Yorkshire, offering British produce and products which can't be found on the high street. As well as

giving them an opportunity to reach a new audience, it makes the Harrogate Christmas Market a unique

experience for our visitors.

We have a lot of traders returning and asking for their usual stall locations, as many customers come back

to see them every year. The Food and Drink Marquee is now full of independent local producers with small

stalls around the walls, and plenty of tables and chairs in the middle for visitors to rest, whilst enjoying a

wide choice of hot and cold food, and non-alcoholic drinks”.  more...

9th October 2017 - Count down is on to the Harrogate Christmas Market!

The count down is underway for the Harrogate Christmas Market, which is expected to attract even more visitors than last year’s 60,000 into the Town Centre.

Once again it is being held on Montpellier area of the Stray, running from 16 to 19 November. Now in its 6th year it attracts visitors both locally and from right across the UK.

Last week saw the Christmas Market Committee meet in the Crown Hotel to finalise the plans.

Brian & Beryl Dunsby, Organisers of the Market chaired a large meeting, testament to the local support the event has gained. more...

17th June 2017 - OBE for Harrogate Christmas Market Organiser, Brian Dunsby

We are very proud to announce that the founder and organiser of the Harrogate Christmas Market, Brian Dunsby, has been awarded the OBE for services to business and the communities in Harrogate in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. more ...

21st November 2016 - FIFTH CHRISTMAS MARKET BRINGS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO TOWN

Thousands of visitors from across the UK have helped to make the fifth annual Harrogate Christmas Market another roaring success.

Over the four-day event, almost 60,000 people visited the stalls and attractions – and many went on to visit shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and other businesses around Harrogate.

Almost 200 traders took part, welcoming visitors from both the Harrogate district and around the country, as Virgin Trains East Coast put on two Christmas Market Specials for the first year. Despite rain every day – and even some sleet and snow showers – visitors, traders and volunteer Market Makers were in high spirits throughout. Click for full news release

27th October 2016 - Could you be a Market Maker?

The team behind the successful Harrogate Christmas Market is seeking more volunteers as it prepares for the fifth annual event.

The Market Makers – a group of 40 volunteers drawn from local organisations, businesses and the wider community – are looking to boost their numbers for the four-day, not-for-profit Christmas Market, from Thursday, November 17 to Sunday, November 20. Click for full news release

14th September 2016 - Special train services set to bring new visitors to Harrogate Christmas Market

Hundreds of new visitors from across the country are expected to come to Harrogate in November thanks to special direct train services being launched for the 2016 Harrogate Christmas Market.

Virgin Trains East Coast is running additional direct services from London to Harrogate on Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20, enabling more visitors to have easy access to this popular event.

These train services will also call at stations on the route so visitors from Peterborough, Grantham, Newark, Doncaster, Wakefield and Leeds, as well as London, can catch a direct train to Harrogate and back.

Click for for more information  Click to download news release as a pdf

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2nd June 2016 - Fifth year of record bookings

More than half of the available stalls have been sold in the first three weeks of booking as organisers prepare for the fifth annual Harrogate Christmas Market.

With 200 spaces available, traders have already been snapping them up promptly in order to take part in the four-day event, which runs from Thursday, November 17 to Sunday, November 20 in central Harrogate.

Organiser Brian Dunsby, who leads the team of volunteers, said: "The positive response from last year's traders made us think we would have high demand again this year, but it has once again exceeded all expectations.

"The level of interest is enabling us once again to be selective about our traders, so we choose those who are offering Yorkshire produce and products which can't be found on the high street. As well as giving them an opportunity to reach a new audience, it makes the Harrogate Christmas Market a unique experience for our visitors.

"We have a lot of traders returning, and asking for the usual stall locations as many customers come back to see them every year.  The Food and Drink Marquee is now offering a choice of alternative stall sizes to suit both large and small Yorkshire businesses, and we are particularly keen to hear from local independent  food and drink businesses. Click here for full news release

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25th November 2015 - Record-Breaking Year at Fourth Harrogate Christmas Market

Record attendance and the largest ever number of coach parties helped to make the fourth annual Harrogate Christmas Market the most successful yet.

Over the four-day event, an estimated 58,500 people visited the stalls and attractions – and many went on to visit shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and other businesses around Harrogate.

The largest ever number of coaches – more than 140 over the four days – helped to contribute to the record-breaking visitor numbers. Almost 200 traders took part, welcoming visitors from around the country as well as many people from the Harrogate District hoping to begin their Christmas shopping. Click here for full  news release

3rd November 2015 - Best Ever Food & Drink selection at Harrogate Christmas Market

The best ever range of Yorkshire food and drink will be on offer at this year's Harrogate Christmas Market,  together with the usual wide range of gifts, organisers have announced.

Home-made pork pies, chutneys, jams, cakes and sweets will be on offer, while other Yorkshire traders will be bringing locally-brewed ales, liqueurs, cheeses and puddings. Visitors will be able to find most things they need to fill their cupboards for Christmas, as well as other food and gifts for friends and family.

For the first time this year, Marks and Spencer – a national company with strong Yorkshire roots – will have a stand in the Food and Drink Marquee. Harrogate store manager Andy Crum and his team will be selling selected items from their range of sandwiches, snacks and festive food and drink. Click here for full news release

12th October 2015 - Harrogate Christmas Market Organisers reveal impressive fundraising total

Reindeer at Harrogate Christmas Market

We have seen concerns raised about the reindeer which come to Harrogate Christmas Market every year. We are completely happy that these domesticated animals are extremely well cared for and their welfare is the highest priority to both their owners and to our team of voluntary organisers. Click here for our full statement.

22nd July 2015 - Records set to be broken as demand for stalls rises again

More than four months before Harrogate Christmas Market opens, organisers are already predicting another record-breaking year.

More than two-thirds of the 200 places available for traders have already been booked, putting the 2015 Christmas Market ahead of its previous record set in 2014.

Click here for full news release

4th June 2015 - Harrogate Christmas Market wins Best Achievement of the Year Award!

Harrogate Christmas Market has been recognised by two separate awards bodies in Yorkshire.

Judges at the Harrogate Advertiser Business Awards chose the four-day event for their Tourism Award, despite strong competition from other, more established and long-running events.

Meanwhile, Welcome to Yorkshire has announced Harrogate Christmas Market has been shortlisted in the Best Event category of the White Rose Awards, which will be handed out in a glittering ceremony this autumn.

Click here for full news release

6th December 2014 - RECORD BREAKING YEAR AT THIRD HARROGATE CHRISTMAS MARKET

Record attendance and the largest ever number of stallholders helped to make the third annual Harrogate Christmas Market the most successful yet.

Over the four-day event, around 52,000 people visited the stalls and attractions – and many went on to visit shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and other businesses around Harrogate.

Almost 200 traders took part this year – an increase from 175 in 2013 and 140 in 2012 – and the visitor numbers also increased by more than 25 per cent from an estimated 40,000. As well as local people, the market attracted visitors from around the UK, including more than 140 coach parties from as far away as the West Midlands, the South-East of England and the Scottish borders.

Click here for full news release

17th September 2014 - BUSKERS SOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS MARKET

Talented musicians are being sought to take part in one of the Harrogate District’s biggest festive events.

Solo artists and ensembles are being invited to play at this year’s Harrogate Christmas Market, which takes place at the bottom of Montpellier Hill from Thursday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30.

The busking area was introduced in 2013 and proved hugely popular, with many of the 40,000 visitors stopping to enjoy varied festive music from vocalists and saxophonists to choral ensembles and mini brass bands.  The performers came from local schools, churches and charities, or existing ensembles who wanted the chance to play live for large crowds.

Click here for full news release

25th July 2014 - CHRISTMAS MARKET SET TO SELL OUT IN RECORD TIME

The third annual Harrogate Christmas Market is set to be fully booked in record time this year, with less than a quarter of places left for traders.

Almost 80% of the 200 trader spaces have been booked for the Market, which runs from Thursday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30.

The Market has a range of different stall types available, from tables in the Food & Drink Marquee to traditional outdoor market stalls, as well as wooden chalets. Some types of stall have proved particularly popular, such as those in the Craft & Gift Marquee, where only a handful of spaces remain.

Brian Dunsby, the Chief Executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce, which is organising the event, said: “In 2013, we had around 150 stalls and were selling the final few spaces in late October.

“This year, we expect to sell out in around half the time it took last year. Applications are still coming in very regularly, so it is important that any local businesses interested in taking part get in touch with us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We try to maintain variety, so if your product is unique, contact us.”

Harrogate Christmas Market focuses on good quality, hand-made or homemade products, gifts and decorations, as well as festive food and drink, from around Yorkshire and the UK. From the bookings already made, guests can expect to find local photography, beers and ales from North Yorkshire, wooden sculptures, jewellery, home-made soups, hand-knitted accessories and much more.

Click here for full news release

13th May 2014 - RECORD BOOKINGS FOR THIRD HARROGATE CHRISTMAS MARKET

Eager traders are already snapping up places at the third annual Harrogate Christmas Market – more than six months before the event opens.

Organisers opened bookings at the end of the day on Thursday, May 1 and were stunned to have received their first completed application by the following morning.  Within the two weeks, 50 applications have been received – an impressive 25 per cent of the 200 trader places available.

Brian Dunsby, who leads the organising committee along with his wife, Beryl, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of traders to our announcement that Harrogate Christmas Market would go ahead again this year. 

Click here for full news release

The organisers of the successful Harrogate Christmas Market are delighted to announce that it will return for a third year in 2014 in the same attractive location, St Mary’s Walk at the bottom of Montpellier Hill.

After being given permission by Harrogate Borough Council to go ahead again, Harrogate Christmas Market will take place from Thursday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30.

The Market will be even bigger and better, with a larger Craft & Gift Marquee and wider gangways to accommodate the large crowds, as well as a redesigned layout to improve the overall visitor experience.

Click here for full news release

2nd December 2013 - ‘FANTASTIC’ CHRISTMAS MARKET ATTRACTS THOUSANDS TO HARROGATE

Thousands of visitors descended on Harrogate over the weekend as the second annual Harrogate Christmas Market took place.

Running over four days, from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, December 1, it attracted crowds from across Yorkshire and beyond to do their Christmas shopping – not only at the Christmas Market but in the many shops around the town.

Visitors and stallholders alike have given an overwhelmingly positive response, praising the organisation and ambition of the team of volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make the event a success. more...

26th September 2013 - Final places filling up at Harrogate Christmas Market 

Local businesses hoping to take part in this year’s Harrogate Christmas Market are being urged to sign up now to avoid disappointment.

Only a few stalls remain, with around 150 different traders expected to be present at the Market, which runs from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, December 1.

With a wide range of different kinds of stalls available, organisers are confident they can accommodate businesses of all sizes, from independent crafters to much larger companies. more...

10th September 2013 - Buskers Sought for Christmas Market

An appeal has been launched to find the Harrogate District’s best musicians to take part in the centerpiece of the town’s festive celebrations.

Solo artists and ensembles are being sought to play at this year’s Harrogate Christmas Market, which takes place at the bottom of Montpellier Hill from Thursday, November 28 to Sunday, December 1.

It will be the second time the Christmas Market has taken place and several new elements are being introduced this year, including a dedicated Food and Drink Marquee, as well as space set aside for buskers. more...

6th August 2013 - Harrogate Christmas Market will be bigger and better!

Harrogate Christmas Market returns from Thursday 28^th November to Sunday 1^st December – and this year it will be even bigger and better. more...

4th June 2013 - Harrogate Christmas Market wins Best Achievement of the Year Award!

We are very pleased to report that the Harrogate Christmas Market won the Best Achievement of the Year Award at Harrogate's Hospitality & Tourism Awards in the Royal Hall last night. more....