Harrogate Convention Centre secures five-year deal with Christmas and Gift Fair - kicking off stellar line-up of large-scale exhibitions in 2023

Taking place from 15 to 18 January this year, the Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair is a major trade event for retail buyers and one of the unique events that keeps the town busy in the traditionally quiet month of January.

The four-day fair attracts more than 5,000 attendees in a typical year, which is believed to have regularly generated an economic impact of over £375,000 on the hospitality trade in the Harrogate district, not to mention the significant business brought by exhibitors, many of whom stay in town for well over two weeks building and breaking their stands.

The Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair took over seven halls this year and featured over 90 exhibitors, which occupied stands from 20 to 1,600 sqm.

The fair, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2020, offers thousands of products to suit every budget and taste, and is a great opportunity for independent retailers, mail order buyers, garden centres, promotion agencies, department stores, wholesale and volume buyers to source some of the hottest selling lines for 2023.

The fair is organised by Harrogate International Toy Fair Ltd, who also run Harrogate International Nursery Fair, which is contracted with the Harrogate Convention Centre until 2024 and attracts around 4,000 attendees each October.

Simon Anslow, Organiser of Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair, said: “Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair is the most important exhibition in the UK for trade buyers who are buying for the following Christmas.

"Exhibiters and buyers also love the vibe of Harrogate with its quality restaurants and bars.

“We are delighted in securing a new five-year contract with the Harrogate Convention Centre running from 2024 to 2028.”

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Paula Lorimer, Director, Harrogate Convention Centre, added: “I am delighted to seal the long-term relationship with Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair, an important trade show that has gone from strength to strength over more than seven decades.

"Harrogate’s unique heritage in hosting large-scale events and our venue’s central location, premier space, facilities and expertise mean that we attract a constant flow of events that keep our spa town busy all year round.”

The Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair is the first of numerous large-scale exhibitions that are returning to Harrogate this year on long-term contracts with the Harrogate Convention Centre, such as Harrogate Fashion Week (5-6 February), Home and Gift Buyers Festival (16-19 July), Harrogate Bridal Show (10-12 September), The Flooring Show (17-19 September), Harrogate International Nursery Fair (15-17 October), Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show (3-5 November), The Knitting and Stitching Show (16-19 November) and Country Living Christmas Show (30 November-3 December 2024).

For more about future events at the Harrogate Convention Centre, visit https://www.harrogateconventioncentre.co.uk/

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