The opening of this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre was the town’s busiest day for six months, Harrogate Business Improvement District said today.
New footfall data shows that on Friday, December 1 — the launch of the fayre — 126,522 people passed through the town centre.
The data, which is based on locations settings on mobile phones, also suggested the town centre has had a busier 2023 than 2022.
It showed 23,246,734 passed through Harrogate up to December 9 this year, compared to a total of 21,631,852 throughout 2022.
Harrogate BID is working with place monitoring platform HUQ to analyse data on the town’s footfall and dwell time over specified periods.
The BID will use the data, which covers 98% of the population, to develop strategies to encourage more people to visit the town centre. Town centre businesses voted in favour of continuing to pay a levy on their business rates this summer to fund the BID for another five years,
Santa was among the visitors to the fayre.
The data is believed to be more accurate than that used previously to measure footfall at Harrogate events because a person is only counted once if they re-enter the specified area.
Matthew Chapman, manager of the BID, said:
“We are very excited to get our teeth stuck into HUQ, which is used in many towns and cities around the UK.
“The system allows us as the BID, along with partners, to look at high street trends and results to evidence even more return on investment from the projects we deliver.
“Understanding where people come to Harrogate from, as well as how long they spend here,will allow us to promote our town more strategically at targeted periods throughout the year.”
Ed Horner, Harrogate BID’s new PR and communications officer, will analyse the HUQ figures to inform future projects, campaigns and events.
Density data statistics allow the BID to track the movement of people in the BID area and create a map showing the most frequently visited sites.
Green indicates less busy areas, while red highlights hotspots.
Cambridge Street, where the traders and stalls were located, was among the fayre hotspots.
The data also allows the BID to track where visitors are coming from and how long they stay in the town centre.
Unexpectedly, according to the BID, visitors have spent the most time in the town centre on Sundays in 2023 so far, with an average of 2 hours and 50 minutes.
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GALLERY: Harrogate Christmas Fayre gets underway
Harrogate Christmas Fayre opened today to ensure the town is in full festive swing.
The fayre, which is organised by Greater Manchester events company Market Place and tourism organisation Destination Harrogate, includes town centre stalls selling foods, gifts, and homeware.
There are also fairground rides near the war memorial and children’s entertainment, as well as the Candy Cane Express road train and an open-top bus tour.
The fayre also includes the Harrogate Ice Rink in Crescent Gardens, where there is also a bar and alpine tipi, as well as a carousel, bungee jump and children’s stalls.
The fayre is open daily until December 17, and the ice rink runs until January 7.
Here are some photos from the opening day.
Pic: Stephen Garnett.
Harrogate pantomime’s Naail Ishaq & Tim Stedman
The Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Band playing on the open-top bus. Pic: Stephen Garnett
The Enchantica’s Christmas Choir
The Harrogate Ice Rink
Pic: Stephen Garnett.
The Candy Cane Express road train
Crescent Gardens.
The open-top tour bus.
The alpine tipi in Crescent Gardens.
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Harrogate Christmas Fayre takes shape ahead of return this week
The installation of Harrogate Christmas Fayre is underway ahead of its return this week.
The fayre, which will run for 17 days, will feature 50 trade stalls around Cambridge Street selling festive food and drink, gifts, jewellery, homeware and more.
There will also be carol singers and live entertainment.
Families also can look forward to the return of the Candy Cane Express road train, which takes them on a ride around the town centre, as well as an open-top bus with a tour guide to learn about Harrogate‘s landmarks.
The Candy Cane Express. Credit: Smart Avenue Media
The Christmas fayre was extended to run over three weekends, rather than two as previously, in April this year.
Organisers Destination Harrogate and Market Place Europe announced the news after local hoteliers and businesses called for an extension to support them further.
In the announcement, John McGivern, events manager at Destination Harrogate, said the extension would provide “an excellent opportunity to boost our visitor economy even further at a crucial time of year.”
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will return on Friday, December 1.
It will run from 10am – 7pm from Monday to Saturday, and 11am – 4pm on Sundays.
Harrogate Ice Rink. Credit: Smart Avenue Media
Harrogate Ice Rink, which will also return on Friday, will be in Crescent Gardens along with a carousel, bungee trampolines and game stalls as part of the fayre.
In addition, the festive Little Bird Market can be found in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Saturdays and Sundays between 2 and 17 December.
Read our Christmas market guide here to find out which festive events are happening near you.
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Masterchef star Owen Diaram to have stall at Harrogate Christmas Fayre
Owen Diaram, a quarter-finalist on BBC MasterChef UK 2023, has won a competition to have a stall at this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre.
He was named as the winner of a competition organised by the market operators to give free trading opportunities at the town centre festive market, which begins on December 1.
The winners of Market Place Europe and Destination Harrogate’s Jolly Big Business Boost competition also receive business mentoring and PR opportunities.
Mr Diaram, who was yesterday named as this year’s winner, uses his South African Indian heritage to create traditional spice packs that only need to be mixed with two ingredients to produce tasty bhajis.
Mr Diaram said he was “blown away” by being selected, adding::
‘’Harrogate has now been my home for the past eight years and I am so excited to trade at what is a truly fantastic event that will allow me to achieve my goal of bringing South African Indian cuisine to mass audiences.’’
Market manager Nick Rhodes said:
‘’The Jolly Big Business Boost is a fantastic way for local, ambitious entrepreneurs to get their foot in the door and has proven to be very successful.’’
The fayre’s opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 11:00am to 430pm.
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Choir members wanted for Harrogate Christmas Fayre
A Harrogate company that set up a Christmas choir last year is looking to recruit members for this year.
Entertainment company Enchantica’s is looking for 18 members to take centre stage at the third Harrogate Christmas Fayre in the town centre.
Enchantica’s is managing the festive entertainment programme on behalf of North Yorkshire Council.
Create a Choir is an opportunity to come together enjoy the benefits of performing, the company says. No experience is needed.
It added:
“Following on from the success of last year’s debut event, both the fayre and the entertainment are set to return, with the search for singers and performers already underway.”
The choir will be led by professional singer Emma Carrington.
Members will attend three rehearsals and give three performances at the fayre, which has been extended to 18 days this year.
Suzanne Vaughan, director at Enchantica’s, said:
“Community is at the heart of the town. People contributing and showing off their talents helps the town to shine bright for all.
“Performers will enjoy the buzz of playing to a festive audience, while their friends and their family will also come along to support them and get to enjoy the festivities in the town.”
Last year’s Christmas celebrations also included performances from local primary schools, dance schools and bands.
Amy Moseley, co-chair of Harrogate Choral Society, said:
“To be part this fantastic event was a real joy for us as a local organisation which has been present in Harrogate for over 75 years and now has 140 members.
“There’s nothing more festive than a choir singing carols and it was so well received by the local community and visitors to Harrogate that we can’t wait to take part again this year.”
Create a Choir is open to adults of all abilities.
Rehearsals will take place on November 5, 12, 26 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Enchantica’s eorkshop.
Performances will be on December 3, 10 and 17.
Those wanting to join the choir – or perform at the fayre in another capacity – can click here or email events@enchanticas.co.uk to sign up.
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Christmas market on Harrogate’s Montpellier Hill bids to return this year
The original Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill could be set to make a comeback this year.
Brian Dunsby, co-organiser and founder of Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd, confirmed it had submitted an event management plan to North Yorkshire Council to stage the event from November 2 to 5.
The event was held annually from 2012 to 2019 until it was halted by covid.
Harrogate Borough Council then scuppered its prospects of returning by refusing to grant a licence and organising its own town centre Harrogate Christmas Fayre in conjunction with Market Place Europe, a specialist market company based in Greater Manchester.
But Harrogate Borough Council was abolished last weekend, with the new North Yorkshire Council taking its place.
The original Christmas market, which was organised by local people, had 170 traders and 53 coaches booked to attend in 2021 when the rug was pulled from under its feet.
By contrast, last year’s town centre fayre only had about 50 stalls, and some people have said there were too many food outlets and not enough craft stalls.
The fayre was accompanied by a giant Ferris wheel near the war memorial, an ice rink in Crescent Gardens and the Candy Cane Express free road train, which were popular with many visitors.
Some people welcomed the decision to hold the event in town rather than on the muddy Stray. Others said the new event lacks charm compared to Montpellier Hill.
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Destination Harrogate, a tourism organisation within North Yorkshire Council, issued a press release yesterday saying this year’s fayre would be extended from 10 days to 18 and run from December 1 to 17.
Because the dates for the seasonal events do not clash, there is the possibility that both could take place this Christmas.
Mr Dunsby declined to comment beyond confirming Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd had submitted its event management plan for what he hoped would be a similar event on Montpellier Hill to those staged up to 2019.
Too many food stalls?
Yesterday’s news release by Destination Harrogate announcing this year’s market extension did not mention North Yorkshire Council.
The Stray Ferret asked Destination Harrogate who was in charge of the market now Harrogate Borough Council no longer existed, who authorised the fayre extension and what response it had to claims that last year’s event had too many food stalls.
It said in a statement:
Last chance to visit Harrogate’s ice rink and ferris wheel“The Harrogate Christmas Fayre has always been an event owned and operated by Market Place Europe and Destination Harrogate will continue to support them at a local level.
“The decision (to extend) was based on feedback from many of the town centre retailers, hoteliers and hospitality businesses, following the impact that the market made on their December trading. After taking on board the feedback from those sectors in particular, and following discussion with Market Place Europe, we’ve been able to agree the addition of the extra week and weekend.
“The market is open to any trader that wishes to apply to have a stall. We would actively encourage any local traders that would like to be part of the Christmas fayre to apply – as we have done since the new event was introduced in 2021. The variety and volume of stalls are dependent upon those traders that come forward and want to take the opportunity to be involved.”
The ice rink, carousel and ferris wheel that have become key features of Harrogate town centre over the last month are set to close.
Harrogate Borough Council introduced the attractions to attract local people and tourists to the area over the festive season.
The Christmas offering began on December 2 with the opening of Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which consisted of about 50 market stalls in town centre streets, along with the ice rink, carousel and 32-metre ferris wheel.
The fayre and the free candy cane express road train, which transported people around town, lasted 10 days.
Since then the festive feel has continued with the ice rink, carousel and other fairground rides at Crescent Gardens and the ferris wheel in the very centre of town alongside the war memorial.
The ferris wheel is due to make its last rotation at 5pm tonight. The attractions at Crescent Gardens will end tomorrow.
The council organised the activities in partnership with events company Market Place Europe, Harrogate Business Improvement District and Events By Cynosure.
Details of the costs and impact on the local economy have yet to be released.
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Get your skates on! Harrogate Christmas festivities get underway
The first skaters took to the ice and the giant Ferris wheel wheel began turning as Harrogate’s Christmas festivities got underway.
Fog lifted at noon just in time for people to get a great view of the festivities, including the 50 market stalls, ice rink and more from the top of the 32-metre Ferris wheel.
The Christmas Fayre is running with the Candy Cane Express road train from today until December 11 but many of the rides including the ice rink, ferris wheel and carousel will stay in the town centre until January 3.
Read our comprehensive guide to Harrogate’s Christmas fun here. Check out our gallery from this morning for a taste of the fun:
A Ferris wheel has started to be installed in Harrogate as the countdown to the town’s Christmas activities begins.
The 32-metre wheel, which is being assembled alongside the war memorial, will be one of the highlights of Harrogate’s Christmas offering.
Other highlights include an ice rink in Crescent Gardens, a Christmas market featuring about 50 stalls, the Candy Cane Express road train and a carousel.
The wheel, also known as an observation wheel, previously stood in York.
Harrogate’s seasonal festivities are due to get underway on Friday. The market will operate until December 11 but the other activities will continue into the New Year.
Harrogate Borough Council is organising the festivities with a range of partners.
John McGivern, destination events manager at the council’s tourism body Destination Harrogate, told Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce this month the ambition was to “position Harrogate district as a first choice Christmas destination” and to attract high spending visitors on day trips and overnight breaks.
The view from Bettys this morning.
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