Celebrate the festive season at the return of the magical Nidderdale Christmas Festival in Pateley Bridge
The town of Pateley Bridge is set to come alive next month with the return of the Nidderdale Christmas Festival - bringing three days of festive fun, music, markets, and family activities.
Running from Friday 5 through to Sunday 7 December, the town will celebrate community, creativity, and Christmas spirit.
The festival kicks off on Friday night with the much-loved Lantern Parade, sponsored by Visit North Yorkshire.
Starting at 5.30pm from the Auction Mart, the parade will travel up the High Street, past shops and traders, before turning onto Church Street and climbing towards the King Street Art Workshops.
It will then continue back to St Cuthbert’s Church, arriving at 6pm.
Santa will join the procession, riding a tractor and greeting families along the way.
At the church, the annual Christmas Tree Festival will open, with Santa continuing to meet children and hand out gifts.
Live music will fill the High Street throughout the evening.
The Summerbridge and Dacre Band will perform from 5.30pm, moving between locations, while the Nidderdale Community Choir will sing at various points between 6pm and 7pm.
Several venues will open late, including Nidderdale Museum, which will welcome visitors from 4.30pm to 7.30pm with free entry and a festive children’s trail.
Pateley Makers Yard and King Street Art Workshops will host an artisan market from 4pm to 8pm, and Pateley Bridge Memorial Hall will offer food, drinks, and crafts with the KindRoots Collective from 1pm till 8.30pm.
The Auction Mart will also run a late-night market, while Thread will display entries to its Community Photo Competition and provide family-friendly craft activities, including soap-making and Christmas card printing.
A free Nidd Plus shuttle bus will operate from 5pm to 8pm, helping visitors move easily between venues and up the hill to St Cuthbert’s Church.
The celebrations will continue on Saturday and Sunday with the Christmas Tree Festival open daily from 10am to 4pm, the artisan market operating at Pateley Makers Yard and King Street Art Workshops, and family workshops at Thread.
Nidderdale Museum will be open on Saturday from 10.30am till 3.30pm, with a small admission fee of £5 per adult, while children under 16 can enter for free.
With its blend of music, markets, workshops, and festive traditions, the Nidderdale Christmas Festival promises a heartwarming weekend for families, locals, and visitors.
For more information about festive events across the Harrogate district, visit https://visitnorthyorkshire.com/christmas