Save the date for the first themed event of its kind for the town
Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) is delighted to confirm that a three-day Victorian Christmas Fayre will be coming to Newbury this year as part of an enhanced festive offering for the town.
Taking place across the first weekend of December, the fayre is set to include a wide range of market stalls with traders dressed head-to-toe in typical Victorian attire, alongside Victorian-themed roving performers, a Victorian carousel, live music and entertainment and, of course, Father Christmas, helping to make this a truly unforgettable event for Newbury.
The event will take place between 10am and 8pm on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December, with an earlier finish time of 5pm on the final day of the event on Sunday 5th December.
The team at Newbury BID, the not-for-profit organisation behind the Visit Newbury brand, are confident the event will attract visitors from near and far. The event is being delivered in partnership with LSD Promotions, who are not only the operators of Newbury’s Artisan Market and upcoming Food and Drink Festival, but are also responsible for Stratford-upon-Avon’s hugely popular annual Victorian Christmas Fayre, which draws in more than 120,000 visitors in an average year.
It’s no surprise, given the circumstances surrounding last year’s Christmas, that Newbury BID is so keen to host something extra special for the town.
As Christmas approached last year, Berkshire was placed into Tier 4 of the Government’s local lockdown system, in an attempt to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Newbury –along with the rest of the county- was subject to the toughest restrictions of all tiers, as a clear ‘Stay at Home’ message took effect from 19th December 2020.
While there were many limitations surrounding activities the BID could put on for the town during the festive period, a range of Covid-safe mini ‘events’ were delivered in Newbury last year, including the successful Virtual Christmas Lights Switch-On and Christmas Trail, both of which aligned with the BID’s wider ‘Tis the Season to Shop Local message.
The upcoming Victorian Christmas Fayre would not be possible if it weren’t for the assistance of some of the town centre’s key stakeholders. Newbury BID would like to thank Newbury Town Council for working in partnership with them to secure the fayre, which will operate alongside their weekly Charter Market on the Saturday of the three-day event. West Berkshire Council have awarded funding to Newbury BID via the Government’s Welcome Back Fund to enhance and promote the “Christmas in Newbury” offer, for which the BID is extremely grateful. Thanks also go to the Corn Exchange for agreeing to accommodate a section of the market in front of their venue during their busy pantomime season.
We’re inviting any traders who would be interested in having a stall at the event to get in touch with market operators, LSD Promotions, by clicking here.
Alison Drummond, our Operations Manager, said:
“Our Victorian Christmas Fayre delivered with our partners, LSD Promotions, was a smash-hit success last year and we’re thrilled to confirm that this will be returning for 2022 in a new two-day format. We are thankful to Newbury Town Council and our town centre businesses for working with us to make this event a possibility again for 2022 and we simply cannot wait to make it happen.
It’s always been a priority for us at the BID to deliver events that benefit the town centre, and with the cost-of-living/energy crisis, it’s more important than ever that we provide free events and entertainment for both local residents and families from a wider audience, while helping to support our local businesses wherever possible. We’re confident that this event will help to do exactly that by developing Newbury as a go-to Christmas destination, alongside our Christmas Lights Switch-On event on 19th November.
Our aim is always to draw extra visitors into Newbury not only during the event, but throughout the Christmas period, encouraging them to shop local for their Christmas gifts and enjoy the local hospitality for their Christmas parties and gatherings!”
For a list of all events taking place in Newbury town centre and beyond, click here.
