Bath Christmas Market kicks off in festive style

20th November 2008

Bath Christmas Market is due to kick off in style next week with the opening night on Thursday 27th November filled with fun and festivity. Residents and visitors will be able to get their first opportunity to browse the seasonally dressed retail chalets as well as enjoying a packed programme of special entertainment.

Signalling off the official start of late night shopping in the city, the Christmas lights will be switched on by the Mayor and Chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council at 6pm on the Roman Baths terrace, overlooking the market. Local radio station GWR FM will be comparing and will be there to mingle with the crowd.

The Victorian carousel will again be returning to Stall Street and will definitely be a centre of attention for children, as will Father Christmas, who may just make a special appearance, the Snow Queen on Stilts and an Elf who will all be at the event!

Supplying a festive soundtrack to the opening evening as the well as throughout the whole event will be a host of musical and dramatic entertainers, bringing cheer to the three entertainment areas - under the arch at Abbey Green, at the Swallow Street end of York Street and outside the front of Bath Abbey. Sing along to carols with Twerton Primary School, the Christmas Belles or Somervale Secondary School and enjoy a variety of jovial and festive musical performances from acts including Hoover the Dog, String Beans and Ad Lib as well as many more.

While exploring the superb range of gifts and products on sale warm yourself up with a winter treat at one of the event's six catering chalets. These are being operated by Bath Restaurants Association who will be offering everything for a festive evening - hot drinks, sweet and savoury snacks and whole meals with a festive or alpine flavour.

Bath Tourism Plus, Organisers of the event are looking forward to the start of the Christmas Market.
Events Executive, Victoria Spriggs says: "We are certain that this year's Bath Christmas Market will be another success and are pleased to be offering something new this year with a number of first-time traders selling new and exciting product ranges. The planning for the event this year has been very smooth, and we're really looking forward to getting out on the market and sharing the event with everyone".
Robin Bischert, Chief Executive of Bath Tourism Plus says: 'Each year, the market attracts over 200,000 people, giving the city centre a boost at this really important time of year. The event is always much anticipated, and Bath Tourism Plus is pleased to see that a year's hard work organising and promoting the event is once again culminating in another successful event, for the benefit of a huge number of people - visitors, the local community, the city centre retail sector and the tourist industry in Bath and the surrounding area.'

The city is no doubt going to be a busy place on 27th November as well as throughout the duration of the market which finishes on the 7th December so public transport is recommended.

For opening times and further details of Bath Christmas Market, see the official website www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk, call 0906 711200 (50/min) or call into the Tourist Information Centre, Abbey Churchyard.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
For further information about Bath Christmas Market, please contact Lucy Weaver at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or by email on: lucy_weaver@bathtourism.co.uk

Bath Christmas Market
Bath Tourism Plus is the company responsible for the marketing and operation of Bath Christmas Market, which attracts approximately 200,000 visitors per year to Bath. For more information about Bath Christmas Market, visit: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation's top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath's official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk

• 
• 
• 
•