Industry News
Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town announces full event programme for fifth annual celebrations
The ‘Christmas Capital of the North’ returns December 4-7, with an expanded programme of outdoor entertainment and festive family fun
Bishop Auckland, Durham, November 12 - Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town is back, for a fifth consecutive year, with organisers promising to again transform County Durham into the “Christmas Capital of the North,” from December 4 to 7.
This annual event welcomed 32,000 visitors in 2024 and returns to Bishop Auckland’s historic marketplace and town centre, bringing festive markets, fairground rides, wandering performers, street food, an ice rink, Santa’s Grotto and family-friendly entertainment.
Thomas Wales, managing director of Baccanalia and event co-producer, said: “Bishop Auckland proudly announces its most ambitious and exciting programme yet, celebrating Christmas and the festive season, for local communities and visitors to North East England.”
Several new attractions and performances have been added to the line-up, including shuggy boats, Lightning Skid – an 80-foot vintage fairground ride – and a newly commissioned Christmas parade featuring young performers from Crook-based Jack Drum Arts, commissioned by Bishop Auckland Town Council.
The festive celebration is jointly co-produced by two local community interest companies specialised in the cultural and creative sectors, Baccanalia for Culture CIC, and Bridge Creative Enterprise CIC, which supports neurodivergent adults and people with learning disabilities to access employment in the creative industries and events sector.
Ben Tinkler, managing director at Bridge Creative, said: “We’re continuing our proud tradition of being a free event, open and accessible, as well as offering ticketed passes with unlimited access to premium attractions and entertainment, including giant heated tipis, live shows, fairground rides, ice skating and a traditional Santa’s Grotto for children and families.”
Everything you need to know about Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town
● More than 35 festive market stalls and traders
● Giant heated tipis and a giant snow globe
● Ice skating rink
● Traditional Santa’s Grotto, plus breakfasts with Santa, and ‘Baby meets Santa’ sessions
● Wandering performers – stilt walkers, storytellers and dancing elves
● Ferris Wheel, Shuggy Boats, Kids Carousel and Lighting Skid fairground rides
● Street food vendors, from schnitzels to churros and mulled wine
● Live music from the Motown Gospel choir
● The Big Christmas Quiz – teams battle it out in the Giant Tipi
● Christmas party fun in the Elves Arms (Giant Tipi)
● Christmas Tree Festival – showcasing creativity and community spirit
● Quiet inclusive sessions for SEND children and families, delivered in partnership with local charity LittleSENDsations
● Christmas Town Winter Parade – Samba drumming elves and giant puppet procession by Jack Drum Arts
● The “Golden Pass” grants unlimited ice-skating, fairground rides, access to giant heated tipis and live shows
● The “Tipi & Tidings Pass” offers priority entry to tipis, evening entertainment and a souvenir cup
Bishop Auckland Town Council funds Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town as the event’s principal partner.
Christmas Town Parade – Friday, December 5
Bishop Auckland Town Council has commissioned Jack Drum Arts, based in Crook, to create a vibrant and inclusive parade featuring Samba Drumming Elves, giant puppets including Santa, dancers, naughty elves and a majestic Ice King and Queen. It’s the first time that Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town has included a procession of artists and musicians in its celebrations.
The parade will travel from the Town Council office on Kingsway, out onto Newgate Street, and make its way along to the Market Place, where it will loop and finish outside of the Town Hall.
Sarah Harris, town clerk at Bishop Auckland Town Council, said: “The town council are absolutely delighted to bring this new parade to Bishop Auckland, as a further addition to our Christmas offering. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate together, showcase creativity, and make Christmas even more special for our residents and visitors.”
Bishop Auckland is a historic market town located southwest of Durham City and home to Auckland Castle, The Auckland Project galleries, museums and eateries and Kynren, the outdoor theatre spectacle retelling thousands of years of British history.
Visitors are advised to dress warmly as the event is mainly outdoors.
Booking in advance for passes is recommended to secure the preferred day and time. Public transport and town-centre parking locations are also available but organisers advise visitors to plan journeys in advance.
For more, visit the website.