Harrogate Christmas Market

Harrogate Christmas Market is now part of the town’s annual Christmas festivities and one of the biggest local Christmas events. We find out what’s in store this year…

Still only in its fifth year, the Christmas Market has already put Harrogate on the map, with visitors enjoying a traditional event with a down-home Yorkshire flavor. This year’s dates are Thursday 17 November through to Sunday 20 November; Santa Claus will arrive to open the market on Thursday at 22:00. The big Christmas Lights Switch On is at 16:00 on Thursday at the Victoria Shopping Centre Piazza, where Santa will assist the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Nick Brown, to illuminate the town with festive lights.
This year many of the 200 stalls will feature hand-made gifts, Christmas decorations and unusual crafts that you simply can’t find on the high street. As well as a fair for the kids, there’ll be delicious Yorkshire-made foods and drinks, including local mulled wine, gins, chutneys and cheeses.
Unusually, Harrogate Christmas Market is not run by the Borough Council, but is staffed by volunteers and managed as a not-for-profit venture. With more than 35 years of helping small businesses and trade associations expand, Brian Dunsby of Perlex Associates runs the Yorkshire Business Market and is also director of the Christmas Market.
As he explains, “Unlike most Christmas Markets in the UK, Harrogate’s event is not run or financed by the council. We have always maintained our view that Harrogate Christmas Market should make a significant contribution to the tourism economy in town and any surplus profit is invested back into its tourist attractions, from supporting awards schemes that promote local businesses to working alongside Harrogate’s festivals.”
“In the past five years,” he adds, “almost £75,000 has been given to tourism-supporting bodies including the Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Awards, Harrogate in Bloom, Harrogate International Festivals, the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Visit Harrogate and Stray FM. It has also been a major supporter of the Harrogate at Christmas campaign for festive lights every year. The most significant sum – nearly £30,000 – was used to support and promote Harrogate at Christmas and ensure the festive lights display could continue and be improved upon every year.”