BEVERLEY’S Festival Of Christmas is going ahead this Sunday, complete with reindeer.

Freezing conditions  put paid to similar events up and down the country last weekend.

Even Lincoln’s famous Christmas market was cancelled.

But Beverley’s festival chairman John Bird said: “I’ve had a message from Lapland and Rudolf and the reindeer will definitely be coming. All things being equal they will be here on Sunday.

“We did not want to disappoint the children, the forecast is quite good for Saturday and Sunday.”

Regardless of the forecast, a thick layer of solid ice is still gripping the East Riding.

That Beverley can hold its Festival is a tribute to the work of volunteers, the emergency services and the council.

On Sunday morning crews used a digger to shift ice from the car park in Saturday Market.

Council workers, some on quad bikes, salted pavements.

Mr Bird said: “All our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has worked so hard to make sure this even can go ahead.

“It’s been a difficult few days for businesses in Beverley. But the shops normally open on the Sunday of the festival.

“We normally get around 50,000 people attending. I’m sure this year people will be relieved to get out and about. People are fed up of being inside.

“Traders and members of the public have been ringing us, asking if it’s on.”

For this, the 16th annual festival, a celebrity couple have been booked to appear at the 10am opening ceremony.

Beverley-based actor Vincent Regan, who has recently appeared in two top TV series, Mistresses and Spooks, will open the festival together with his partner Amelia Curtis, whose TV parts have included a role in The Royal.

As well as Santa and his reindeer, there will be a huge Christmas market with more than 100 stalls.

A bulging entertainment package of street entertainment is also lined up, including pipe and brass bands.

What’s on, when and where

8.30am to 4.30pm: Park And ride from Beverley Racecourse to town and  return.  Free parking, bus fare, adults £1 return, children free.

8am: Spoken Communion at St Mary’s Church.

8am: Holy Communion at Beverley Minster.

9am and 10.30am: Holy Mass St John’s Church.

9.30am: All Age Worship and Parade Service at Toll Gavel United Church.

10am to 11.15am: Family Communion at St Mary’s Church.

10.30am: Parish Communion at Beverley Minster.

10am: Santa and the Cairngorm Reindeer procession from Wednesday Market to North Bar Within and then returning to Saturday Market.

10.30am to 1.30pm: Reindeer display at the north side of Saturday Market.

10am to 4pm Traditional Christmas market with over 80 festive stalls in Saturday and Wednesday Market.

10am to 4pm Victorian children’s rides and amusements in Saturday Market

10am to 4pm Steam organ in Saturday Market.

10am to 4pm Yorkshire Thoroughbred Car Club in North Bar Within.

10am to 4pm Bernese Mountain Dogs and handcarts in Dyer Lane, Toll Gavel and Wednesday Market.

10am to 4pm Street entertainer in various locations.

10am to 4pm Candlelighters (Beverley Rotary Club) at Market Cross.

10am to 4pm Light a Candle for a Loved One (Beverley Lions)  in Market Cross.

10am to 4pm Sealed Knot Society Living History Exhibition in North Bar Within and Coronation Gardens.

10am to 4pm St John Ambulance in Saturday Market.

10am to 4pm Humberside Police in Saturday Market.

10am to 1.30pm Beverley Brass Band at Burtons corner.

10.30am to 11.45am Beverley Minster – Christmas Tableau with carols in Angel Square.

11am to 11.45am Beverley and District Pipe Band march from Wednesday Market to Saturday Market.

 11am to 11.45am  150th (Yorkshire) Regimental Transport Band in Cross Street.

11am to 11.45am Stillhouse Revival (The Alley Cats) at the junction of Old Walkergate and Butcher Row.

11.30am to 3pm Toll Gavel Centre (hot drinks, mince pies & mulled wine) at Toll Gavel United Church.

11.30am to 12-midday Northern Historic re-enactment of Civil War in North Bar Within.

11.45am to 12.30pm The Ragamuffins in Cross Street.

12-midday to 1pm Church Lads & Church Girls Brigade Band in Angel Square.

12-midday to 12.45pm Soprano Rachel Newman at the junction of Old Walkergate and Butcher Row.

12.30pm to 12.45pm Green Ginger Garland Dancers in Wednesday Market.

12.30pm to 1.15pm Escapologist at Toll Gavel United Church.

12.30pm to 1.15pm Band of the 150th (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment in Cross Street.

1.15pm to 1.45pm Beverley Garland Dancers in Cross Street.

1.30pm to 2.15pm Rachel Newman at Toll Gavel United Church.

1.30pm to 1.45pm Green Ginger Garland Dancers at the junction of Old Walkergate and Butcher Row.

2pm to 3pm Church Lads & Church Girls Brigade Band in Angel Square.

2pm to 2.45pm Stillhouse Revival (formerly The Alley Cats) at the junction of Old Walkergate and Butcher Row.

2pm to 2.30pm Northern Historic re-enactment of Civil War in North Bar Within.

2.15pm to 2.45pm Beverley and District Pipe Band in Saturday Market.

2.30pm to 3pm Music provided by Toll Gavel Musicians at Toll Gavel United Church.

3pm to 3.30pm Beverley Garland Dancers in  Saturday Market.

3pm to 3.30pm The Raggamuffins at the junction of Old Walkergate and Butcher Row.

4pm Close of Festival

4.30pm Last park and ride bus to Beverley Racecourse, picking up in Wylies Road.

6.30pm Choral Evensong at St Mary’s Church.

6.30pm Evensong at Beverley Minster.

Some events and timings may be subject to change on the  

day.