Christmas Cracker returns on Sunday 19 November
Thousands of people are expected at the St Albans Christmas Cracker to launch the festive season in St Albans District.
The exciting street festival will take place in the City Centre from noon until 6pm on Sunday 19 November with St Peters Street closed to traffic to create a safe and vibrant atmosphere.
Among the attractions will be live music, fairground rides, a Santa’s grotto, street entertainers, a snow globe, sideshow games, street theatre and around 100 market stalls selling hot food, drinks and seasonal gifts.
Much of the family-friendly entertainment will be free with something to suit people of all ages and abilities.
Festive decorations and installations, provided by St Albans BID, will be illuminated throughout the event.
There will also be a guest appearance from a celebrity – CBeebies and Discovery Plus star Maddie Moate who stars as Tinkerbell in this year’s Alban Arena pantomime, The All New Adventures of Peter Pan – The Pantomime Sequel.
Maddie, who hosts several TV shows including Maddie’s Do You Know? on CBeebies, will join St Albans Mayor, Councillor Anthony Rowlands, on the main stage at 5.30pm.
The Christmas Cracker is organised by St Albans City and District Council and part-funded by the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Attractions include:
The Main Stage: situated near the Beech House, there will be live music and other entertainment from noon to 6pm.
Acoustic Stage: located by the Anthropologie shop, there will be music from a host of local performers.
Santa’s Grotto: held by the Alban Arena and run by the St Albans Rotary Club.
Create and Play Zone: free interactive festive activities for all including candle making, wooden games and a snow globe.
Market Traders: around 100 stalls selling a vast range of novelty gifts, seasonal produce and mouth-watering street food.
Street Performers: walkabout entertainment and street theatre from a juggler, roller skaters and other performers.
More details along with a timetable of events can be found at the Enjoy St Albans website.
Chris Traill, the Council’s Strategic Director for Community and Place Delivery, said:
The Christmas Cracker is a fantastic way to get the District’s festive season underway and always attracts thousands of people to the City Centre.
I would urge our residents not to miss out as there is lots of entertainment, much of it free, for people of all ages and interests.
The event will also provide a welcome boost to the local economy by bringing many extra visitors to the City Centre where they will use our shops, pubs and restaurants as well as the market stalls.
Charter Market
Another highlight of the festive season will be the additional December dates for the twice-weekly Charter Market.
The Market is taking place every Thursday and Friday in the fortnight leading up to Christmas Day as well as the usual Wednesdays and Saturdays.
There will be an extra day’s trading, too, on Sunday 24 December.
Pantomime
The All New Adventures of Peter Pan starts at the Alban Arena on Friday 8 December and runs until Sunday 31 December.
Starring beside Maddie are Coronation Street legend Chris Gascoyne, who played Peter Barlow in the ITV soap, and St Albans favourite Ian Kirby.
Tickets are available to book here.
Pictures: top, scene from the 2022 event; bottom, Maddie Moate at the Alban Arena.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.