I love a Christmas market. There is something about the atmosphere, the roast chestnuts and mulled wine that really gets me in the festive spirit. I must admit, I rarely buy actual gifts from Christmas markets but we do buy decorations and lots of yummy foods to keep for over Christmas. Here is my guide to the best of the region's markets this year. Feel free to add your own in the comments.
Enjoying Mulled wine at a Christmas market last year
- 12th - 13th November - Wheelbirk's Christmas fayre
11am-9pm meaning this is perfect for some late night shopping. There will be mulled wine and nibbles too.
Kirkley Hall
- 17th - 29th November - Newcastle Continental market
Held around Grey's monument this market has a real European feel - enjoy waffle's from Belgium, crepes from France and Paella from Spain.
Newcastle Continental market 2013
- 21st - 22nd November - Wallsend Christmas market
A festive market in Wallsend town centre featuring carol singing from local schools.
- 22nd November - Vallum Christmas market
Food and craft stalls, Santa's grotto, alpaca's, street food, wreath-making demo's, choir and mischief from the Vallum elf. Free entry.
- 27th - 30th November - Team Valley Christmas market
115 stalls, a craft tent, mulled wine and visits from Santa himself. You can also drop off Christmas gifts for Metro Radio's cash for kids charity.
- 29th - 30th November - Christmas market at The Alnwick Garden and Sparkle
There will be unique and eclectic delights from around the region all hand picked by the Alnwick garden team and between 3-6pm the gorgeous Grand Cascade will be illuminated in the evening sky in half hourly displays. There will be carolling and festive nibbles too.
- 29th - 30th November - Woodhorn Colliery
You'll find handcrafted jewellery, cards, decorations, crafts and more. There are free family events over the weekend too including The Search for Fire which is a free festive show filled with fire and ice.
- 2nd Decmber - 4th December - Cobalt Christmas market
A festive market selling festive goods and treats. There will be carol singing from local school's too.
Pick up Handmade gifts at Christmas market's - thanks Love Letter's for this pic.
- 4th - 7th December - Royal Quays Christmas market
The first Christmas market is being held at Royal Quays this year.
- 5th - 6th December - St Nicholas' Festival, Whitley Bay
Along with festive stalls expect a lantern parade, carol singing and entertainment.
- 5th - 7th December - Heighly Gate Christmas market
Santa will be in his grotto, reindeer will be outside and as well as stalls and a craft tent there will be children's rides too.
- 4th - 8th December - Newcastle Christmas market
Situated around Grey's monument you will find local beers, homemade jams, handmade chocolates and lovely gifts.
- 5th, 6th and 7th December - Festive Family Fun at Lightwater Valley
Stalls galore, an amazing UV show, Santa in his grotto, lots of festive performers, Christmas decorations and trees for sale and a selection of fairground rides including the carousel and eagle creek's farm will be open. Run wild in The Angry Birds zone and meet the birds of prey in the falconry centre. Fantastic value at only £2.50 per person (under 2's free)
- 5th - 7th December - Yule Celebrations at Bede's world
Always a popular event with 50+ stalls. Dogs on a lead are also welcome
Thanks Time and Tide events for this photograph from last year's celebrations at Bede's world
- 5th - 7th December - Durham Christmas Festival
Over 190 stalls surrounding the gorgeous Cathedral. Tickets are £2.50-£3.50. Along with stalls expect live reindeer, falconry, children's crafts and a lantern procession.
- 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st December - Christmas market at the Alnwick garden
There will be unique and eclectic delights from around the region all hand picked by the Alnwick garden team available to purchase and between 3-6pm the gorgeous Grand Cascade will be illuminated in the evening sky in half hourly displays. There will be carolling and festive nibbles too.
- 7th December - Berwick Christmas Market
Carol Singing, fun fair, children's activities, 40+ stalls and Santa too. In aid of The Berwick and District Cancer Support Group
- 12th - 14th December - Medieval Christmas at the Castle keep
Free entry with 50+ stalls in an amazing setting. Expect storytelling, poetry, entertainment and merchants selling their wares. There will be lots of dressing up and artisan products.
Thanks Time and Tide events for providing this pic of what to expect
- 13th - 14th December - North Shields Victorian Christmas market
I have a real soft spot for this market. Stall holders get dressed in Victorian clothes and there is a full programme of events from street theatre to Punch and Judy, Carol singing and fairground rides. We love the hog roast and roast chestnuts.
We always buy our wreath from North Shield's Christmas market - this one was £15
to find out about more Christmas events in our region.
Please add any other Christmas fayre's you know of in our comments section below and share with your friends. Happy shopping! xx
I've added some of these to my diary, I knew about some of the North Tyneside ones but I didn't have the dates for Newcastle, and this is the first I've heard of the Royal Quays having one too! So many Christmas markets and stalls to get to this year :)
ReplyDeletewww.northeastnerd.co.uk
There really is - we are going to pick a few to attend this year x
DeleteGallery 45 , Felton, NE659PP , will be hosting its first Christmas fair this year. Along with the 8 residential artists and Gallery/gift shop there will be 20 invited artists displaying and selling unique handmade gifts for Christmas. Come and join us for glass of mulled wine and a relaxed shopping experience on Dec 6th from 11 till 5pm.
ReplyDeletemulled wine sounds fab x
DeleteOhh great list! We love the Newcastle Continental market....So many tasty treats! :)
ReplyDeleteI love it too - we always visit after Fenwicks window
DeleteLove Christmas markets! Will definitely be checking out a few of these & heading up to Edinburgh the week before Christmas as their German Christmas market is my absolute favourite :) x
ReplyDeleteOh we are going to Edinburgh the weekend before Christmas this year - been a few years since we've been but I remember it being really magical x
DeleteFab list, I LOVE this time of year. Other ones we know of (that we are having a stall at) is the Daisy Green Vintage stall on November 29th at the Shipley Museum, Gateshead from 10am-4pm and one at Jesmond Dene on Saturday 6th December 10am-3:30pm x
ReplyDeletesounds fab x
DeleteI also Highly recommend attending both the Yule Christmas Fair at Bedes World and the Christmas Market at Newcastle Keep. I've been to quite the Time and Tide fairs at Bedes world and it's just a FANTASTIC environment with loads of friendly stall holders, costumers and staff :)
ReplyDeleteAdded to our list - the photo's from these events look fab x
DeleteWhat a fantastic round up, thank you! I'm so glad to see there are so many in November as I'll be away most of December and I was worried I might miss all the Christmassy goings on!
ReplyDeleteYeah there are surprisingly quite a few in November! We are starting with Newcastle contintal
DeleteThanks for a fantastic list. I hope we can get some some of these
ReplyDeleteCat x
hopefully - you've got to love a Christmas market x
DeleteThere are also fayres this weekend 15th - 16th November at Mickley garden centre with reindeers and santa grotto as well as Allendale Christmas fayre on the 15th November a great day for all the family. With lots of friendly stall holders selling Christmas gifts, handmade vintage teds, jewellery etc
ReplyDeletefab - thanks for info x
DeleteDon't forget Hexham Christmas Market on the 13th and 14th December, always well attended by stalls and shoppers alike, in the market Square and up Beaumont Street, right next to Hexham Abbey :)
ReplyDeleteSounds great - thanks for adding the info x
DeleteTHANK YOU so much for this list, how totally useful!! Bookmarked :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to #TheList xxx
Awesome list!! :D There's Blyth Victorian Christmas market next Saturday too: http://www.blythtown.net/town-events-.html
ReplyDeleteThere are also markets in Middlesbrough!
ReplyDeleteOn November 30th there will be a Christmas market in Centre Square as part of the awesome Christmas lights switch on, including loads of delicious food from around the region.
Then on December 5 & 6th, the market will be on Corporation Road (outside BHS) with over 20 stalls of local food and crafts. Plus it's Small Business Saturday on December 6th so a perfect excuse to visit the market and buy local!! :)
All the details can be found on the market facebook page at: facebook.com/middlesbrough market, and full details of Christmas in Middlesbrough are at: www.lovemiddlesbrough.com/christmas
We'd love to see loads of new faces :)
6th - 7th December, Kirkleatham Victorian Christmas Fair 11.00 - 3.30.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/avictorianchristmasatkirkleathammuseum
This is a yearly 2 day event where we transform the museum to a victorian Xmas event.
come see hand made Xmas crafts and giftware - Childrens activities
entertainment and a fully decorated stage for our own Santa Claus and Mrs Claus
Reindeer again will be on the grounds as well as other animal visitors from the owl centre
Great roundup. We were at Newcastle continental market this weekend and are going to try and slot in a couple of others
ReplyDeleteSuch a great list, I absolutely adore Christmas markets! Just another one to add to your list, Serendipity on Frederick Street are having a Christmas table top sale on December 14th. I'll be singing there and there'll be lots of handmade goodies to buy. Last year is was so much fun, I'd really recommend it to anyone living in Sunderland. Details are here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/events/1503734519890471/?ref=ts&fref=ts
Kayleigh xx
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