Durham City’s Traditional Christmas Festival went ahead without a hitch, despite storm force gales hitting the city, and particularly the Palace Green marquee, immediately prior to its opening.
Despite traders being delayed in setting up on the day before the festival, whilst the marquee was checked, by 10am Friday morning more than 300 traders were ready to welcome visitors to four markets in Durham City Centre: The Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green, the Regional Producers’ Market in Durham Cathedral Cloisters, the outdoor market in Durham Market Place, and the Market Hall. Colin Wilkes, Managing Director of Durham Markets which organised the festival along with Event Durham (Durham University), said: “We were actually lucky with the weather in the end. The winds had eased completely before we opened.
“Durham has had a wonderful weekend, with markets, shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants, and inevitably car parks all busy. Many of the Festival traders I have spoken to not only had a great weekend’s trading, but also thoroughly enjoyed the city’s atmosphere. Several of the traders have been with us for all 20 Christmas Festivals in Durham, and vowed they will be back again next year.” Cllr Pauline Charlton,Mayor of Durham, visited the Christmas Festival on Sunday morning, touring the Craft and Gift Marquee and choosing the three best presented stalls. This followed the Mayor’s Coffee Morning in Durham Town Hall on Saturday, held in aid of the Mayor’s Charities. Cllr Charlton commented: “What amazed me was that we were chatting to people not only from the North East, but from across the North of England, from Scotland, and some who’d travelled considerably further. They had come to enjoy this beautiful city, and to do their Christmas shopping here. This is the perfect way to end such an exciting
and busy year for Durham.” Highlights of the 2013 Durham City Christmas Festival included The Children’s’ Lantern Procession from the Market Place to Durham Cathedral on Saturday afternoon, which culminated with the St Nicholas Service, attended by 300 children bearing lanterns. There were also a number of carol services through the weekend, and entertainment including brass bands, jazz bands, juggling, fire eating and birds of prey.
Market Trade News 