A bit of added sparkle at this year's Bath Christmas Market

18th November 2011

Bath Christmas Market kicks off next Thursday, and this year the event organisers at Bath Tourism Plus are pleased to announce a few added extras to bolster the festive cheer.

As well as more than 130 chalets full of Christmas goodies to browse, and the popular Victorian Carousel in Stall Street, this year sees a new free craft workshop for children and a carol singing workshop for anyone of any age, hosted by city favourite, Grenville Jones. The event’s entertainment programme is also bigger and better this year, with highlights you won’t want to miss, including performances by the hysterical Natural Theatre Company, the Rock Choir and Grenville Jones’ choirs.

Artist-led workshops provided by the Holburne Museum are sure to enthral children with a number of activities such as screen printing and making Christmas decorations and festive lanterns. The free drop-in workshops will take place every Saturday and Sunday throughout the market (except 3rd December) in the heart of the festive shopping event on York Street. For those who have a beautiful voice, or who just enjoy to sing, the singing workshop with Grenville Jones is open to all and takes place on 3rd December at The Guildhall, and at the end of the session, there’ll even be the opportunity to perform to Christmas shoppers.

Bath’s very own Natural Theatre Company will be at Bath Christmas Market on various days throughout the event. Look out for Gordon the Panda with his fairy helper, a Panto Dame, Christmas Flower Pots, Scrooges and Shopaholic Housewives, who are certain to keep shoppers amused!

Choirs will perform at Bath Christmas Market with festive repertoires and carols and songs, providing a wonderful atmosphere for shoppers browsing the many wooden chalets. The Rock Choir - a local motown, pop and gospel choir - will be singing on 5th December with an uplifting and festive sound, Grenville Jones’ choirs will be delighting shoppers with carols and old festive favourites, and a local choir will perform on 7th and 10th December to raise funds for Sands, a Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity.

In addition, there will also be many talented musicians, school choirs and entertainers providing a full programme of entertainment for shoppers young and old to enjoy.

For the second year running Bath Christmas Market will be extended by an extra week into December providing more time to enjoy the festive atmosphere and top quality shopping. With more than 130 local and regional retailers offering their wares in quaint wooden chalet style stalls, Bath Christmas Market is the perfect place to find that ideal Christmas gift, whether looking for traditional wooden toys, unique jewellery, personalised gifts, tasty foodie fayre or handmade homewares – there is something for everyone.

A complete list of all stalls at the 2011 Bath Christmas Market as well as other information about this year’s event can be found on the official website: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

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Notes to Editors:
For further information, images and interview requests, please contact Lucy Ryder at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: lucy_ryder@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 300,000 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. For more information about the services that Bath Tourism Plus offers to meetings, conference and incentive travel businesses, see www.bathconference.co.uk.