Reindeer to return to Christmas festival
SANTA'S reindeer are set to make a welcome return to Beverley's Festival Of Christmas.
Father Christmas had to swap his reindeer for Shetland ponies last year because of bluetongue disease restrictions.
But at this year's annual festival, on Sunday, December 14, Santa's sleigh will be pulled by Cairngorm reindeer.
The festival, which takes place from 10am to 4pm, is believed to be the East Riding's biggest one-day event and is set to attract more than 40,000 people to the historic market town.
Festival founder and chairman John Bird and his committee members have lined up a huge array of entertainment, including choirs and garland dancers.
More than 80 stalls have been booked for the Christmas craft and gift market.
Other attractions include a Victorian fair, a classic car club rally, a display by mountain dogs and a civil war re-enactment of a street battle by the Sealed Knot Society at the North Bar.
Mr Bird said: "The first festival was held in 1995 and was a very small affair, with just a handful of stalls.
"Each year it has grown in size and it is now arguably the biggest single one-day event in the East Riding."
And the festival is sure to sparkle brighter than ever before, after the Beverley Christmas Lights Group raised £20,000 this year for more festive lights.
Beverley town clerk Helen Ball said the festival, which is sponsored by the Mail, looks set to be bigger and better than ever before.
She said: "Each year the small committee of volunteers works tirelessly to make it a bit different from the previous year.
"The new Christmas lights will unify the town centre and will look cracking."
6 Comments
by Kat, Beverley
Friday, November 21 2008, 3:52PM
“I may be wrong but I think the festival is organised and supported by volunteers and not ERYC, I think Bev Town council are the ones who get involved.”
by Christine Benham, Beverley
Friday, November 21 2008, 1:58PM
“After reading Martins comments on the Festival of Christmas I just had to say, please get a life, think about all the children and families that the festival brings together, in this material world we find ourselves living in, it is nice for people to get back to basics and think about the true meaning of Christmas. I am sure there would be many people that would miss the event if kind hearted volunteers had the same attitude as him. After all the doom and gloom of our much talked about economic climate some light relief and a Christmas Spirit would go along way to making people feel better and it does not cost a fortune. Happy Christmas to everyone and thanks East Riding for caring about our community.”
by Sue, Beverley
Wednesday, November 19 2008, 3:44PM
“Martin I agree that on the continent they really do know how to put festivals on with style but let's not forget that over there they are entirely funded by region and are organised by teams of professional event organisers. With that in mind I would like to thank all the volunteers in our town who, in their own time, help to make our communities work together better which is what we all ought to be doing. I take my hat off to each and everyone of them, they deserve thanks and praise and not condemnation.”
by S an' T Aclaws., Debenhams (Hull)
Wednesday, November 19 2008, 12:20PM
“So, Martin (Eboneezer) of Beverley, I've never heard such a miserable, grouch of a stick in the mud as you!! You sound like one of those idiots who walks around while everyone else is enjoying themselves and just pulls everything to pieces. Well let me tell you fella, your house will definateley not be getting a visit this, or any other year....unless Rudolph need a no.2!! Try lightening up for a living, or if ya can't, just sit in yer armchair with a miserable face on ya, muttering "Roll on Death"!!”
by Jim, Rounding reindeer up
Monday, November 10 2008, 5:16PM
“Are the Elf and Safety bods taking an early Christmas leave then who is going to check the hand washing facilities in case some one touches one,and the Marksmen in case any of them throw a wobler,reindeer I mean, or do I mean the Marksmen Ho Ho Ho”
by Martin, Beverley
Saturday, November 08 2008, 12:56PM
“This is one of the most over-rated "annual events" in the East Riding and that is saying something.
It is a street market with a few tatty street music performers.
The attendance figure of 40,000 is a joke.
As Beverley residents, we invited a couple of friends from York to go along with us two years ago and we were totally embarrassed.
If you like yet another collection of market stalls, OK, go along and enjoy it, but please don't expect a festival.
The same comments apply to the annual Beverley "food festival".
Do those who call this a festival ever go out of East Yorkshire, let alone to the continent, and see what a real festival is all about.”