Visit Great Yarmouth town centre for a magical shopping experience

The historic Market Place will become a winter wonderland with a wide range of stalls offering food, drink, arts, crafts and gifts from inside a large marquee and wooden chalets, all covered with beautiful festoon lighting and decorations.

In addition to the seasonal stalls for people to explore, the Christmas Market festive extravaganza, organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, will have live music courtesy of Harbour Radio, a mini fairground for the kids and free rides on Santa's road train to the Minster.

The three-day Christmas Market is being run in conjunction with the popular Christmas Fayre, organised jointly with Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership and featuring a fantastic selection of craft, food and specialist gift stalls in the historic Minster. 

Great Yarmouth's Christmas shopping season will officially get underway with the Christmas lights Switch-on celebrations in the market place, on Friday, November 29, with an evening of live entertainment starting at 5.30pm.

Cllr Michael Jeal, the mayor, and Father Christmas will be joined by athlete Sophie McKinna to switch on the festive illuminations at 7pm. Great Yarmouth Lions Club will be transporting Father Christmas to the market place on their Christmas Sleigh. The switch-on will be followed by a rooftop firework spectacular and late opening of town centre shops and the Christmas Fayre and Market. 

Hosted by Rob Chandler from The Beach radio, and organised by the Town Centre Partnership, the switch-on event will include performances from musician Bill Downs of The Voice and The X Factor fame, Centre Stage dance academy, popular local vocalist Gaby Starbuck, heroes and villain characters from the St George's Theatre Beauty and the Beast Panto plus a sneak preview of Norwegian Choir Lardal Kantori.

Delights on offer at the Christmas Fayre and Market will include hot spiced apple juice, homemade fudge, cakes, pastries and preserves, speciality breads, gift baskets and cookies, scented decorations, scarfs, handcrafted jewellery, ornaments, toys, other gifts and much more besides.

On Saturday, November 30, the Lardal Kantori Norwegian choir will give a concert of traditional and modern Norwegian carols, with a performance starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are available in advance from the Minster or online at www.visitgreatyarmouth.co.uk at £8 each

Cllr Graham Plant, chairman of the economic development committee, said: "The Christmas Fayre and Market are always hugely popular, marking the start of the festive shopping period in the town centre. This year, the market is going to have that seasonal 'wow factor'. Entering the marquee to explore the stalls will be like walking into Christmas and will get everyone into the festive spirit."

Town centre manager, Jonathan Newman, of the Town Centre Partnership, said: "The Great Yarmouth Christmas Lights Switch-On, Christmas Fayre and Market provides a lovely festive atmosphere for families to come to town and support their local shops and businesses. All the Christmas attractions will add up to create that truly magical Christmas shopping experience."

The Christmas Market is supported by Go Trade, a cross-Channel project to revitalise traditional markets, which is funded by the EU's Interreg France (Channel) England Programme.

Opening times for the Christmas Fayre and Market

• Friday, November 29 
  10am to 8.30pm
• Saturday, November 30 
  10am to 5pm
• Sunday, December 1 
  10am to 4pm

The festive fun continues into December

The festive fun in the town centre will continue into December.

Everyone is welcome to the annual Civic Carol Service at the Minster, on Monday, December, 9, this year starting at a new time of 6.30pm. 

Late night shopping and entertainment in the town centre, ending with a free firework display at 8pm every Wednesday, will be on Wednesday, December 4, Wednesday, December 11 and Wednesday, December 18. 

And come along to the Minster, between Friday, December 6 and Sunday, December 15, to enjoy the Christmas Trees and Cribs decorated by local community groups, schools and businesses. Funds raised at the Tree and Crib Festival will be in aid of the fabric and organ of the Minster.

Then on Wednesday, December 11, at 7pm, people are invited to take part in a Lantern Parade, from the Christchurch area of King Street towards the Minster. To join in, come along to a free lantern-making workshop at Great Yarmouth Library on Saturday, December 7, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Bag your free parking!

Festive shoppers in Great Yarmouth town centre will benefit from free all-day parking every Sunday in town centre surface car parks, from December 1 to 29.

The incentive by the borough council will be run over five Sundays at the car parks in King Street, Stone Cutters Way, Brewery Plain, Fullers Hill, George Street, Market Place and Howard Street (Palmers).

Parking remains free in most town centre surface car parks every weekday from 4pm, and free from noon on Wednesdays, at King Street, Brewery Plain and George Street.

Plus free parking incentives are still available for holders of a Resident Advantage Card and through the Town Centre Partnership's First Hour Free initiative.

The card gives a third hour's parking completely free to holders who pay to park for two hours in any town centre car park, including Palmers car park. Cards can be ordered online at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk