Santa Claus is coming to town!
(Date of issue: Monday, 14 November 2011)
Father Christmas and his reindeer will be making a visit to
Carlisle on Thursday 24 November when he leads a Santa Parade
through the city streets.
His procession will be the finale of a free fun-packed family
event at Carlisle Castle, between 5.45pm and 6.30pm. Entertainment
will be held within the Castle grounds, with the support of English
Heritage and the Cumbria's Military Museum, and will include
magical stiltwalkers – Mary The Faerie and Mike Angelo, Happy and
Douglas the Clowns, Daffy Dill and Annan Brass Band providing
seasonal sounds.
The magical Carlisle City Council event has been organised in
partnership with cnevents and will culminate in Santa leaving the
Castle, at 6.30pm. He will then travel on his sleigh pulled by
reindeer across Castle Way and up through Castle Street.
Santa’s arrival in the city centre will help launch the start of
a four-day Traditional Christmas Market. The Market will begin
trading at 12noon on the 24th and with over 40 stalls, visitors can
peruse traditional wooden chalets offering a range of delicious
festive goodies from gifts to fine foods.
Santa will halt his traditional wooden sleigh in outside the
Crown & Mitre hotel where the Town Crier will hand over to the
Right Worshipful Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Barry Earp to officially
open the Cumbrian Christmas Market from the balcony of the Crown
& Mitre. Then, an impressive ‘Snowflake fantasy’ will fall
following the celebrations at 7pm in the city centre.
The end of the parade means the beginning of Christmas shopping
with a chance to browse the Cumbrian Christmas Market, selling all
manner of festive goodies for four days between November 24th and
Sunday November 27th.
Cllr Marilyn Bowman, Portfolio holder for Economic
Development:
“Our Christmas programme is as magical as ever and will include
the welcome return of the popular Santa Parade. Last year’s event
was a resounding success and I’m sure that this year’s will be just
as good. We’re delighted that Carlisle Castle will play key part in
the festivities. Come along and join in the fun, free for all the
family.”
As part of the festive arrangements, there will be no vehicular
access to Castle Street between 6pm to 8.30pm and no parking from
4pm onwards on Thursday, 24 November. Castle Way will also have a
rolling road closure for around 10 minutes as the Santa Parade
leaves the Castle, at around 6.30pm, and travels across Castle
Way.
The Santa Parade is only one of a host of city-centre events
lined-up to boost the city’s Christmas spirit in the countdown to
Christmas. These include:
- The BIG Switch On – Carlisle city centre on Sunday, 20
November, when the remaining Christmas lights, including the lights
on the 35-foot real Christmas tree, will be switched on as part of
an afternoon of free entertainment in the city centre. Olivia
Story, will join the Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Barry Earp, to trigger
a galaxy of Christmas lights in the city centre at 5.30pm. The
programme will start at 2pm, when the stage will come alive with
non-stop entertainment.
- Traditional Christmas Market - Carlisle city centre, between 24
- 27 November, with traditional wooden chalet stalls, and a host of
festive gifts, traditional carousel, food and much more.
Entertainment each day. Meet the Walby Reindeer and visit Santa in
his log cabin. Enjoy the Living Nativity in the Cathedral grounds
with live animals and try a spooky tour with costumed guides.
- International Christmas Market - Carlisle city centre, between
7 -11 December. The return of this popular market with its gifts.
Flavours and aromas from all over Continental Europe and beyond.
You will be spoilt for choice with such a wide collection of stalls
and products from Thailand, India, South Africa, France, Germany,
Spain and so many more!
- Christmas Carol Service - Carlisle Cathedral on Thursday, 8
December at 6.15pm. This will be followed by carol singing in the
city centre and a Hog Roast at the Tithe Barn for those who attend
the service.
- Characters of the Castle Tour - Carlisle Castle, between 28-30
December, 10.30am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pm. This festive season, you
are invited to see the Castle from a new perspective, through the
eyes of an experienced tour guide with many a tale to tell. Enjoy a
glass of mulled wine as you learn more about the history of mayhem,
murder and mystery within the Castle walls. For more information,
please visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/carlisle.