Weekender: Nottingham set for ‘biggest ever’ Christmas celebrations
Nottingham residents are in for a colossal feast of festive fun this yuletide as the city gears up for its biggest ever Christmas celebrations.
The City Council has announced that this year’s festive attractions will be the largest ever staged and last a whopping seven weeks.
Winter Wonderland will open in Old Market Square on Friday 15 November and close at the end of the year.
70 wooden chalet market stalls will be returning to the city centre alongside an enlarged 1100 square metre ice rink. The rink is the largest in the East Midlands and will include a dedicated children’s area. Revellers will also be able to skate along an ice path around the Old Market Square fountains.
The Sur La Piste and Altitude bars will return, accompanied this year by the Helter Skelter bar on Long Row.
The Ice Mountain toboggan slide and carousel are also making a return visit, and, as usual, there will be a plethora of traditional Christmas food and drink stalls to enjoy.
Meanwhile, Trinity Square will host a new festive attraction in the shape of THOR’S tipi bar, within which customers can soak up “hygge” – Danish for cosy, charming or special.
The Sheriff and Lord Mayor of Nottingham will be switching on the tree lights, signalling the opening of the attractions across the square.
Councillor Dave Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “We are proud of the quality Nottingham has to offer residents and visitors at Christmas in the city centre and I’m sure the new skating layout will be a real hit this year. We have listened to feedback from last year about the switch on event and have adjusted the timing and programme as we want visitors to have a great experience. The whole experience will have something to entertain and delight people of any age. The tree lighting ceremony will also be a memorable start to the extended Christmas programme for 2019.”
Edward Mellors, events director at Mellors Group, said: “We are really looking forward to getting Christmas underway with Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland which this year, with the new attractions, will be bigger and better than previous years. There will be something for everyone to enjoy and we hope visitors to the city and residents enjoy the festive season here in Nottingham.”
