THERE'S so much in store across Redcar and Cleveland during this year's festive season.
The celebrations kick off in Redcar in spectacular style on Sunday 28 November, with a festive parade involving over two hundred residents who have taken part in months of workshops with professional local artists, creating an array of lanterns and costumes for the parade theme of 'Fire and Ice'. They join a whole host of professional performers, artists, dancers and musicians.
The parade, funded by the council and Tees Valley Community Foundation, commences from the Heart at 4.30pm, heading to Station Road, Queen's Street, the High Street, West Terrace, Coatham Road, then back to the Heart. Acts will perform on the stage at Redcar Town Clock from 5:30pm – 6:45pm, before the big Redcar lights switch-on. For more details, click here: https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/event/redcar-christmas-lights-switch-on/
On Saturday 11 December, an Ice Trail with winter walkabout is also coming to Redcar's High Street and Esplanade, funded by the European Regional Development Fund. From 10am-6pm, visitors can expect magical ice sculptures, a live ice carve and an ice workshop with its very own ice post box. Santa's elves will be on hand to help write and post letters to Santa and there'll be an array of festive performances to get the whole family into the Christmas spirit. More information on the event is available here: https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/event/redcar-ice-trail/
Across the rest of the borough, there will be:
- New Marske Christmas Parade and Children's Disco – Friday 26 November
- 'Sparkling Marske' Christmas Festival – Thursday 2 December
- Eston Christmas Market – Friday 3 December
- Guisborough's Twilight Christmas Market – Tuesday 7 December (TBC*)
*Please be advised that this event date is subject to road closure approval, therefore subject to change. Please check the Guisborough Town Council website for confirmed details of the event. - Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Community Carol Service – Thursday 16 December – 7pm – St. Mark's Church, Marske
- Boxing Day Dip 2021 – 11am – from Redcar Lifeboat Station slipway
All details including times, prices and booking/registration info, where applicable, can be found on Enjoy Redcar and Cleveland's What's On page, here: https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/christmas/
A number of Christmassy activities and workshops are also on offer at specific locations throughout December, including:
- Creative Christmas at Eston Arts Centre – 3 December – 23 December. Please visit https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/event/creative-christmas-workshops-and-art-packs-at-eston-arts-centre/
- Pop-up Christmas at Kirkleatham Museum – 4th & 5th, 18th & 19th December. For details, see: https://redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/event/pop-up-christmas-at-kirkleatham-museum/2021-12-18/
- Christmas workshops at Kirkleatham Walled Garden – throughout December. For details and booking, go to: https://kirkleathamwalledgarden.co.uk/whats-on/
Councillor Louise Westbury, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Culture, said:
“We are very excited to be welcoming back a fun-filled Christmas with lots going on, after a much quieter festive period last year. I'm also pleased that the community has had a chance to get involved in the Christmas plans across the borough and am delighted that professional workshops have been running for groups who will be part of the Redcar illumination parade. Some parts of the borough have made a decision to keep things more low key than usual, which we hope everyone will respect in light of minimising the spread of Covid.
“Even in areas where Christmas parades and markets are taking place, let's all remember to continue to follow Government advice, which is helpful with reducing all winter bugs in general – no-one wants to be unwell for Christmas if they can help it!
“There is lots going on for all the family – please enjoy it safely."
The Redcar Ice Trail has been supported with approximately £22,000 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
Please be advised that all events may be subject to Covid restrictions, if advised by the Government.