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13
Dec 2021
Harrogate Christmas Fayre could be 'bigger and better' next year
Market Place Europe, which co-organised the 10-day Harrogate Christmas Fayre that ended yesterday, says traders were pleased and the event boosted town centre footfall.
Visitors pictured at the Harrogate Christmas Fayre.
The company that organised this year's Harrogate Christmas Fayre has said it hopes the event will return next year "bigger and better".
Market Place Europe organised the 10-day fayre, which ended yesterday, in conjunction with Harrogate Business Improvement District and Harrogate Borough Council.
It featured stalls as well as rides, including the Candy Cane Express road train.
Andy Pidgen, operations manager at Market Place Europe, said:
"It went really well, the traders were very pleased. Some of the businesses I have spoken to said how good the event was for footfall. The council and Harrogate Business Improvement District really liked it.
"We still need to have a debrief with both organisations in January but at the moment I would say I am feeling quite positive about next year.
"There are a few things I would like to tweak in terms of chalet locations but overall we would aim to make the Harrogate Christmas Fayre bigger and better in 2022."
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A council spokesman said today it was "too early" to tell how much footfall the fayre had generated but added that town centre shops had commented on how busy Harrogate had been.
Harrogate Christmas Fayre was organised after the original Harrogate Christmas Market, on Montpellier Hill, was cancelled after the council refused to sign off the organisers' event management plan.
Steve Scarre, vice-chairman of Harrogate Christmas Market, told the Stray Ferret he will hold talks with the council and submit a new event management plan in January in the hope of reviving the event.
He also suggested the market and the fayre could both take place next year.
He said:
"We are planning to hold the Harrogate Christmas Market in the Montpellier quarter next year.
"Every year there are new requirements that we have always tried to meet. We bend over backwards to make it as safe and enjoyable as possible.
"We have asked for a meeting with the council in January and plan to submit an event management plan then.
"From the very beginning we have said we have no issue with a separate event in the town centre.
"But our Harrogate Christmas Market works in the Montpellier quarter. It is simply magical down there."
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