Residents campaign to add Christmas sparkle to Harrogate street with lights appeal

We fight on: Harrogate independent traders vow to battle to keep customers during lockdown

While Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) is ensuring there will be a little sparkle in these challenging times in the town’s main shopping areas, the team behind Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal are determined to do the same in Starbeck on the High Street.

Chrissie Holmes, Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal’s secretary and events organiser said the lights would give a lift to people’s lives in this stressful year.

She said: “Starbeck residents always look forward to the Christmas Lights being switched on during the last Saturday of November each year. They bring so much cheer to our High Street.

“But this year they are looking forward to them more than ever with everything being so uncertain for everyone.”

Although the team organised a successful Christmas Fair last year, which meant it had funds to roll over to help its appeal this year, it is still £3,000 short of the target required to be able to put the Christmas lights up and repair any broken or faulty ones.

But organisers have come up with a variety of ways the public can support the appeal.

It is holding a children’s competition called Santa’s Elf is Missing with a reward for finding him.

Forms costing £1 each are available now from Starbeck Post Office until November 27 and the winners will be drawn on Saturday, November 28 - the scheduled date for the low key, Covid-secure Christmas lights switch-on in Starbeck if all goes well.

There will also be an online raffle with prizes including a Betty’s Hamper, £50 cash, a bicycle, six bottles of wine, tea for two at Mama Doreen’s cafe, a voucher for Elite Meat and much more.

Tickets will be on sale from the Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal’s pop-up shop each Friday from noon to 4pm in the car park outside the Prince of Wales public house on Starbeck High Street.

Alternatively, they are also available online by searching for PayPal send payments and [email protected]

'Shop local' campaign launched in Harrogate by BID during second lockdown

Why we are supporting Harrogate's indie shops and why you should back them too

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.