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| The Witches Tower
Lancaster Castle |
Lancaster’s traditional Charter Market is hosting a festive Christmas Market in the courtyard of the magnificent Lancaster Castle on Thursday, December 20. From 12pm until 9pm, everyone is invited to step back in time through the historic John O’Gaunt Gate and discover what lies beyond the castle walls whilst enjoying some last minute shopping in a fantastic setting.
There will be performances of traditional Christmas carols sung by local choirs throughout the day including the CitySingers and the choirs of Dallas Road and Moorside Primary Schools as well as a brass ensemble. Seasonal refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Featuring food, gift and craft stalls, this will make a fascinating opportunity to buy your gifts for those hard-to-buy-for friends and relatives and feel all Christmassy in this heritage setting before making your way down into the city centre where late night shopping takes place every Thursday until 9pm. Free parking is available in city council car parks as well as the Market Gate Car Park from 6pm.
Use of the castle for a Christmas Market is by kind consent of the Duchy of Lancaster, whose plans for the Castle courtyard include many more public events.
Coun Jon Barry, Cabinet member with responsibility for markets, said: “Having been granted permission for the city’s popular charter market to host its very first Christmas market at Lancaster Castle, I am sure the event will prove to be a memorable experience for both traders and shoppers alike. It will also give local people the opportunity to support their local markets as well as discover and take pride in their local heritage.”
Paul Clarke, CEO of the Duchy of Lancaster, added: “We’re pleased to be working with the council to offer this opportunity for the community to come into the castle courtyard and enjoy it. This is exactly the sort of event that we would like to see more of at the castle in the future, and I’m sure residents and visitors alike will not want to pass up the chance to walk through the John O’Gaunt Gate and see the courtyard in all its glory.”
Admission into the castle courtyard is free. There will be no access to any other parts of the castle.
Last entry will be 8.00pm.
The Charter Market will also open on Christmas Eve from 9am-4pm for last minute Christmas shopping at the usual location in Lancaster Town Centre.
• For more information visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/christmas