The Harrogate Christmas Fayre is set to return for 2024 and will once again be staged across a longer period following a successful year in 2023. North Yorkshire Council said the town has seen a steady increase in hotel occupancy since it was first staged in 2021.
Organised by Market Place and supported by North Yorkshire Council, the fayre is due to return from Friday, November 29, and will run until Sunday, December 15.
It was extended last year to run for 17 days – a week longer than the previous two years in response to calls from town centre businesses who reported increased footfall during the event’s run.
North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “The Harrogate Christmas Fayre is a popular event in the North Yorkshire calendar, so we are delighted that it is returning for 2024.
It will include up to 50 market stalls (Image: North Yorkshire Council)
“Events such as these make a significant impact for the tourism industry at a crucial time in the business calendar. They bring footfall into town centres as well as attracting visitors from outside of the area to plan their festive break here in North Yorkshire.”
Managers at leading hotels in Harrogate have claimed that the Christmas fayre provides a significant annual boost in trade.
Figures from STR, which is a global leader in hospitality data and analysis, has shown that hotel occupancy rates in Harrogate for December last year was 72.3 per cent.
This was a significant increase on the 59 per cent figure in 2021 and 69.9 per cent for 2022, although rates had been affected in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Crown Hotel Harrogate’s general manager, Dan Siddle, added: “We are delighted that the Harrogate Christmas Fayre will be back again this year. Since its launch, we have seen a significant increase in occupancy.
“The fayre provides a great reason for people to visit during the festive period and extend their stay to experience what the rest of the area has to offer.”
The fayre includes up to 50 stalls with independent traders from Yorkshire as well as from across the country and Europe selling Christmas gifts, decorations and seasonal culinary treats.
The event will not be solely limited to the town centre as the Little Bird Made artisan market returns to the historic Valley Gardens for the three weekends during the Christmas fayre. Jewellery, crafts and gifts from local traders will also be on sale.
The popular Candy Cane Express road train will return, taking visitors on a tour of the town on Fridays to Sundays during the Christmas fayre.
A giant 32-metre Ferris wheel will offer spectacular views of Harrogate and the surrounding area, both during the day and evening to allow visitors to experience the Christmas lights and illuminations from above.
The chief executive of Market Place, Nick Rhodes, said: “We can’t wait to be back in Harrogate this year to deliver the Christmas fayre.
“Harrogate is a beautiful town to host one of our events, and we are looking forward to bringing another amazing variety of traders into the town centre to increase footfall and contribute to the local economy.”
