A TOTAL OF 150 market traders will be selling some of the finest products available in the area at next weekend’s Knutsford Christmas Market.
The market is one of the attractions of what promises to be another memorable weekend, which includes the Christmas lights switch-on, a new Santa Parade, a funfair and Santa’s Grotto.
Alex Brown from Knutsford Town Council said: “Knutsford Christmas Market is returning for its ninth year, and we think it’s going to be the best one yet.
“We have so many fun attractions planned throughout the weekend, and 150 incredible market traders.
“Please come along and enjoy this wonderful festive community celebration, which has truly become a staple event of the Knutsford calendar.”
The popular Christmas Market returns to the town centre on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1.
Market stalls will be selling an array of food and drink, crafts, art and special gifts across two streets, Princess Street and Silk Mill Street.
Silk Mill Street will also be home to Santa’s Grotto, where children can visit Father Christmas to receive a special Christmas gift.
The grotto is being transformed into a winter wonderland by Knutsford in Bloom and is being sponsored by CAFT, which will be running it to raise funds for their charity.
Hot food and drink stalls selling your favourite foods as well as hot coffee and a selection of bars selling beer, cocktails, mulled wine and more will be in Canute Place on the Saturday and outside the Lost and Found on Princess Street on the Sunday.
The Mayor of Knutsford, Cllr Andrew Malloy, will be raising money for his charitable fund for a starter fund for a skatepark and youth leisure activities at his stall on Princess Street.
This year there are four chances to win instead of one, with four festive hampers up for grabs filled with gifts.
Tickets cost £2 and all funds raised will be donated to the charitable fund.
The Dancing Unicorn stall will be offering face painting on Princess Street outside the Lost and Found all day on the Saturday to turn your children into their favourite Christmas characters.
The funfair is returning to the market again this year. John Collins Funfair will be setting up on Princess Street car park behind Waitrose for the whole weekend.
The new Santa Parade will begin at 5pm from the bottom of King Street.
You can see LED light performers from the Travelling Light Circus lead the parade, followed by popular Christmas characters acted out by Knutsford Little Theatre actors, children from Bexton Primary School and finally Santa, who will be pulled in his sleigh.
The parade will arrive in Canute Place at about 5.20pm, where the Travelling Light Circus performers will head on stage for an exciting lights performance.
Before this visitors to the market can enjoy live entertainment on the Saturday from 1pm in Canute Place on a stage featuring local musicians, dance troupes and community groups who will entertain you while you enjoy some hot food and drinks.
Stick around for the Christmas lights switch-on at 6pm, where the Mayor will be joined by special celebrity guests Adam and Katy Rickitt.
There will be live entertainment on the Sunday from the Get Back Band, who will be busking for charity and Start Without Me, who will also be performing.
You can see these performances on the small stage next to the hot food and drink section on Princess Street.
The Park and Ride service is back for 2019 following its success after its introduction at last year’s event.
The service will offer a free shuttle service and will run back and forth from Booths Park to Knutsford Bus Station.
The shuttle only takes about five to 10 minutes and will run continuously for the whole weekend.
Drivers can use postcode WA16 8GS and follow the signs to Car Park C to make use of the free service.
Volunteers from the Cheshire Badger Vaccination Programme and Knutsford Royal May Day will be helping to run the service over the weekend and collecting optional donations, which will be split between the two charities as well as a small portion going back into funding the service.
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Knutsford Town Council thanked Bruntwood for sponsoring the Christmas lights and Speedy Freight for sponsoring the town Christmas tree and helping to bring festive cheer to the town, as well as Total Vehicle Leasing and Bentley Manchester for arranging the transport for the Santa Parade and 438 Marketing, who designed the Christmas promotional materials this year, including the popular leaflet.
For full details of what’s happening this festive season visit the Town Council website, the Knutsford Christmas Market Facebook or Twitter pages.
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