Don’t miss the Christmas Cracker on Sunday 17 November
Thousands of people are expected at the St Albans Christmas Cracker – a free family-friendly event that kicks off the festive season.
The annual street festival takes place in the City Centre from noon until 6pm on Sunday 17 November with St Peter's 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 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 will be illuminated throughout the event and there will also guest appearances from some of this year’s Alban Arena pantomime, Cinderella.
The Christmas Cracker is organised by St Albans City and District Council, sponsored by St Albans City Centre BID and part-funded by the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
Attractions include:
The Main Stage: situated near the taxi rank, there will be live music and other entertainment throughout.
Rising Stars Performance Space: located by the Anthropologie shop, there will be music from young performers from across the District.
Santa’s Grotto: situated by the Alban Arena and run by the St Albans Rotary Club.
Create and Play Zones: free interactive festive activities for all at locations across the site, including festive decoration making, a football shoot-out and traditional wooden games.
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 including a stilt-walking Christmas trees and elves riding around on reindeer.éé
British Sign Language Interpreters will be available at the activities throughout the day.
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Lead for Events, said:
I am thrilled at the prospect of another St Albans Christmas Cracker.
This is a fantastic way to get the District’s festive season underway and always attracts thousands of people to the City Centre.
I urge our residents not to miss out on the fun as there is great entertainment, much of it free, for people of all ages.
The event also provides a boost to the local economy by bringing many extra visitors to the City Centre where they will use our shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants as well as the market stalls.
Vivien Cannon, Manager of St Albans City Centre BID, said:
Everything has been laid on for the whole community to come along and help launch the start of this wonderful Christmas season.
Our City Centre businesses invest in the City through sponsorship of the event. Everyone wants to make sure visitors enjoy browsing around the stalls and enjoy the festive entertainments. Most of all, our businesses send Christmas Greetings and the message to continue to shop locally this Christmas.
Charter Market
Another highlight of the festive season will be the additional December dates for the twice-weekly Charter Market.
The Market will take place every Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 9am to 3pm, 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 Tuesday 24 December.
Pantomime
Cinderella starts at the Alban Arena on Thursday 12 December and runs until Sunday 12 January
Its stars include EastEnder Samantha Womack, comics Bob Goulding and Ian Kirkby, and Union J singer George Shelley. Tickets are available to book here.
Pictures: top, scene from the 2023 event; bottom, Cinderella at the Alban Arena.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.