Santa arrives, and centre to hold free fun activities

The festive season began in time-honoured fashion in Scarborough at the weekend as Father Christmas arrived by boat to take up residence in his grotto at Boyes.

He arrived at Scarborough Harbour at 11am on Saturday and was greeted by Scarborough Sixth Form’s Christmas Band, the cast from YMCA’s Christmas production, and team members of This Is The Coast radio station.

He then joined his helpers on his sleigh and headed through town, before arriving at Boyes department store on Queen Street.

The Christmas Grotto was opened, and will remain open all day every Saturday and Sunday and Thursday and Friday afternoons up to Christmas Eve. Boyes’s Christmas window display was unveiled last Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Brunswick Centre has unveiled a host of free Christmas activities.

Throughout November and December, the centre will host arts and crafts sessions, musical workshops and carol concerts for anyone wanting to come along and join in the festive fun.

Santa and his elf will also be roaming around the centre to spread some festive cheer and hand out chocolates, and the Christmas trees decorated by Creative Minds Scarborough and local Girlguiding groups in celebration of National Tree Week will also be on display.

The Brunswick’s Christmas lights and centre music will also bring a festive sparkle to your shopping experience and there’s free parking from 3pm as the big day gets closer.

Stephen Marriott, Centre Manager at the Brunswick, said: “Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment, so it’s great to be able to work with local community groups and organisations such as Create Arts and Thomas Hinderwell Primary Academy to put these free family activities on for our visitors to enjoy.”

Events include wand-making followed by a Christmas fairy and elf dance party on December 4; learn how to play a Christmas song on the ukulele or handbells on December 10; and Christmas wreaths crafts drop-in on December 18, plus much more.

For more about everything going on at the Brunswick in the build-up to Christmas, visit the www.brunswickshopping.com website or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Hunmanby Silver Band performed songs at Boyes. Santa arrival photos courtesy of Marson & Co.

The Brunswick Shopping Centre will hold a host of free activities over the next few weeks.

Santa Claus waves to families and children as he arrives in Scarborough.

The tradition of Santa arriving by boat has been going for decades.

Lots of people dressed in festive outfits for the arrival of Santa.

Santa arrived at the harbour at 11am on Saturday.