Melton Mowbray Christmas Weekend

Melton Mowbray Christmas tree and lights in the Market Place 2020

Put the first weekend of December in your diary when Christmas kicks off to a flying start in Melton Mowbray with the Melton Mowbray Christmas Market and Christmas Trees @ St Mary’s.

The Melton Mowbray Christmas Market will be held in the town centre over the weekend of Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th December, from 10am until 4pm offering an array of traditional festive gifts, local produce, food and drink and hand-crafted wares.

Joe Orson, Leader of the Council said : “The Melton Mowbray Christmas Market is a marvellous annual event for our town which encourages locals and visitors to shop in Melton Mowbray town centre.

Melton Borough Council is proud to work in partnership with the Melton BID and the Melton Mowbray Town Estate once more to ensure everything is in place to bring the festive spirit to the town during December and to encourage everyone to support our local economy after, what has certainly been, a turbulent time for many businesses.”

Shelagh Core, Manager of the Melton BID said,

“We’re delighted to be working with the Melton Mowbray Town Estate to bring a three-day Christmas Market back to the town centre this year, after what has been a challenging and difficult time for businesses and residents. With music, attractions and family entertainment, we hope that it will provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy some Christmas gift buying and local shopping, whilst also indulging in a drink or lunch in one of our many cafes, restaurants and bars.”

Santa will be in his Grotto in the Market Place over the Christmas Weekend, open 10am to 2pm on Friday 3rd and 10am to 4pm on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December.

The Bubble Wizard will be returning to the town centre, a master at bubbles suitable for every age to provide great family entertainment over the weekend. The Bubble Wizard can create the biggest and most dramatic bubble effects such as people inside bubbles, giant bubbles, clouds of billions of bubbles and bubbles inside bubbles!

There will also be live music and entertainment throughout the weekend, including vintage vocalist and entertainer Miss Lily Love-Joy, music and dancing from Want2Dance and performances from the Rock Choir. Not to mention Morris dancing, alpacas, shire horses and birds of prey.

This year you’ll also be able to enjoy the thrill of the fair, with our new Winter Fair in the town park open for family fun and entertainment from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th 10am to 4pm.

The town will be lit up for Christmas with the traditional Christmas tree taking centre stage in the Market Place, however there will not be a public switch on event. The Christmas Light Switch On has always drawn huge crowds with often as many as 5,000 people packed into the market place to view the main event.  With the uncertainty that comes with Covid, the decision was made earlier in the year to enjoy a Christmas schedule of activities which would allow people to visit the town centre and view the lights but over a whole weekend.    

Coaches are already booking in over the three-day weekend and free coach parking is offered though this must be pre-booked.

We’re also excited to announce that the 7029 Clun Castle and 6233 Duchess Of Sutherland “Top & Tailed” Vintage Train  will be visiting the Christmas Market on Sunday 5th December, with the opportunity to book on the Harringworth lunchtime special tour.

Visitors to the Christmas Market will be able to take the lunchtime journey out to Corby and back across the famous Harringworth Viaduct with its spectacular views across the valley. 

Don’t forget to visit the Christmas Trees @ St Marys too, which will be held in St Mary’s Church from Wednesday 1st December to Wednesday 8th December, with another magical display of Christmas trees.

So, whether you are planning to meet friends, bring the family, start your shopping or just enjoy the atmosphere, there’s something for everyone at this year’s Melton Mowbray Christmas Weekend. Download the Melton Town App too for a full directory of your local businesses and monthly offers.

Free parking will also be available in all of the Melton Borough Council’s Long Stay car parks on the first 4 Fridays in December on 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th.

You can find out more about what is on in Melton by visiting www.discovermelton.com.

~ends~

For more information please contact:

Shelagh Core, Melton BID at info@meltonbid.co.uk

Follow the Melton BID on Facebook@MeltonBID, Instagram@meltonbid or Twitter@MeltonBID

12 November 2021