Final countdown to Gorleston Christmas Market begins

The three-day extravaganza kicks off on Friday, November 18, until Sunday, November 20, with the main market held in Priory Gardens for the first two days and spilling out on to the High Street on Sunday.

The funding for this event comes from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA, which aims to provide incentives and opportunities for people to enjoy all that the Great Yarmouth area has to offer. 

As well as browsing the beautifully decorated wooden chalets bursting with stalls of food, beverages, arts, crafts and gifts, young visitors can post letters in Santa's post box with their wish lists for Christmas.

On Sunday, the festivities kick up a notch with a lot more festive fun for the whole family to enjoy, including several fairground rides and the opportunity to visit the Great Yarmouth Lions Santa on his sleigh.

There'll also be a festive Elf trail, where kids are invited to scour the stalls in Priory Gardens and shops along the High Street to collect the hiding elf letters, then unscramble them to find the missing words!

Answer sheets will be available from Priory Gardens and in participating shops with a prize of a family ticket for the Pantomime going to a winner which will be chosen at random.

Visitors are encouraged to get into their best elf costumes and head along to Priory Gardens for their elfie selfie to be entered into the 'Best Dressed Elf' competition for a chance to win one of the many prizes from Sentiments, Little or Large pet shop, Barker's Blooms, Costa and Bellyboos.

Local community radio station, Harbour Radio, will be entertaining guests with their jam-packed line up from midday up until the Gorleston Christmas lights switch on, which will take place on Sunday 20 November.

The weekend will end with a bang thanks to the firework display and traditional light switch-on.

Cllr Daniel Candon, chairman of the economic development committee said: "This weekend is set to be jam packed full of exciting things for people of all ages and interests to see and do as they get into the festive spirit at our Gorleston Christmas Market.

"It's another example of how our borough can provide a brilliant free family day out with some fantastic spectacles and performances."

Asa Morrison, Chief Executive of Visit Great Yarmouth, said the Christmas Market was designed as a welcome family event to attract visitors and local people into Gorleston.

"The three-day event aims to draw visitors in to Gorleston as well as offering local family's festive fun as everyone looks forward to Christmas. We are delighted to be able to provide the start of what we believe will be a wonderful Christmas 2022 for our visitors and local residents."