LOW-KEY SWITCH-ON TO BRING FESTIVE FUN!
Markets, carols and fairground rides set for town centre
ORGANISERS are to stage a lowkey Christmas lights switch-on to ensure a town centre gets some ‘much needed festive cheer.’
Festivities in Newcastle on November 21 will be scaled back in a ‘responsible way’ to allow the event to take place.
It follows talks between the Newcastle Business Improvement District board (BID), town centre partners and council leaders.
A series of events have been planned but there will be no town centre stage to help avoid large crowds gathering.
BID manager Alex Taylor said: “We are hoping to bring some much-needed festive cheer to the town centre that was missing last year due to lockdown, but in a responsible way.
“We need to be mindful of covid infection rates being on the rise within the borough, and make a sensible and informed decision regarding public safety and trying to keep infection rates low by avoiding large crowds gathering, particularly around focal points such as a stage.
“To put on an event to the usual
scale, which brings thousands of people into the town centre, would mean an event that could be jeopardised for all if tighter restrictions were brought in.
“We made the decision to move forward with a ‘low key’ switch-on, which will comprise activities including choirs, craft workshops, street food vendors and fairground rides.”
Activities include the Castle Artisan market which will host more than 55 independent traders from 10am to 4pm on the Stones.
There will also be craft-making, Victorian storytelling, street food, carol performances and fairground rides until the lights switch-on which will happen between 4.30pm and 6pm from a town centre secure location.
Alex added: “We’ll be giving away vouchers throughout the day in person and on social media to be spent in town centre businesses.”
The Christmas lights switch-on will kickstart the beginning of a calendar of events in the town centre and local area which will comprise of festive markets from Castle Artisan, a Vegan market and lantern-making workshops from B Arts.
Two new food events will also be taking place.
The team behind Feast Stone will be bringing Feast to Newcastle on December 10 and 11 with street food vendors and live music.
Get Stuffed will be offering a one of a kind, street food twists on festive classics where you can snuggle up in front of real open log fires and a giant outdoor movie screen on Goose Street between December16-20.
Simon Tagg, leader of Newcastle Borough Council, said: “While we look forward to the activities and events, we will also continue to follow the covid secure guidance to protect ourselves and each other.”