christmas activities in chesterfield

The Chesterfield Elves have arrived in town

The Christmas magic continues in Chesterfield with the launch of the Elf Trail this week, as part of  Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council’s Christmas in Chesterfield campaign.

The cheeky elves have left some clues on how to find them and want you to spot them around the town centre in this special game.

When you find one of the elves you can scan the ‘Elf QR Code’ which gives you access to some very special and secret Elf webpages, which we’ve hidden on the Destination Chesterfield Christmas website.

On the webpages you will find out more about each elf and you’ll see their special letter. Collect all the letters – spell out the secret elf word – and you will be entered into a competition to win an Annual Family Pass for Matlock Farm Park.

You’ll also find discounts and gift guides for shopping locally to support your local high street this Christmas.

The Christmas in Chesterfield campaign is based on the magical story of the Chesterfield Elves and how they saved Christmas. The first part of the Christmas campaign – The Amazing Magical Santa House – opened last weekend and is now completely sold out. Families are reminded if they can no longer make their slot, they can easily cancel by going to their confirmation email and clicking on cancel. This will ensure other families get the chance to see Santa this Christmas.

The story is the perfect Christmas bedtime story and it is now available to download here

You can also download The Cheeky Elf Colouring Book which will keep everyone entertained this Christmas.Councillor Kate Sarvent, cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “The Christmas season has got off to a great start with the fantastic Amazing Magical Santa House which has proved to be very popular, selling out completely and giving families a wonderful start to the Christmas season. The Elf Trail adds to the great Christmas feel across the town centre. It really feels like Christmas in Chesterfield now.

“It is great to see our town centre shops open again with shoppers following Covid safety guidance. It’s just what we need right now – a busy but safe town centre.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “This year’s Christmas campaign really does showcase what an innovative and resilient town Chesterfield is. The Elf Trail offers safe fun for all the family to explore Chesterfield town centre this year. It’s also an ideal excuse to shop local. Santa may not be here in person, but the elves most definitely are, and I hope families will enjoy discovering them as well as the myriad of shops, stores and market stalls that Chesterfield has to offer.”

The elf trail is a contactless experience using mobile phones. When scanning the QR code you don’t need to touch the window just scan it from a distance. Once scanned move away from the window to read about the elf and find the competition clue. Please maintain social distancing if someone else is scanning the QR code of the Elf and wait until they have moved two metres away before scanning.

Full details on everything happening this Christmas, including gift guides and shopping offers for our many unique and independent shops can be found here with further details on council services at Christmas on the Borough Council’s website.

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Greatest Hits Radio launches Christmas Eve Jingle to spread Christmas cheer

Greatest Hits Radio is encouraging locals across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire to join the Christmas Eve Jingle and gather on their doorsteps to ring a bell at 6pm for two minutes on Christmas Eve.

Taking inspiration from the ‘Clap for Carers’ initiative that took the UK by storm during lockdown, families and communities are invited to take part and help create a spark of magic and cheer after what has been an incredibly tough year for all.

The idea was put together by a group of mums in Harrogate and the local campaign has been quickly gathering support across the UK and worldwide, with a Facebook group attracting close to 300,000 members.

Now backed by Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire and its network of sister stations across the UK, the campaign welcomes the reach of millions more people who can feel inspired and excited to help spread some much-needed cheer this Christmas.

What’s more, Greatest Hits Radio has made thousands of jingle bells available for purchase for anyone looking to take part. Priced at just £5 and available on the Greatest Hits Radio website, all profits from the bells will go towards their official charity Cash for Kids, whose mission is to respond to the needs of disadvantaged children and young people in our communities.

The sale of the bells will help raise a potential £30,000 for children living in poverty, and net proceeds from any bells purchased will go directly to the charity’s Mission Christmas campaign, which gifts young people Christmas presents who may otherwise go without.

Speaking about the event, Greatest Hits Radio presenter Steve Priestley said “Communities are at the core of Greatest Hits Radio and we’re privileged to have the ability and reach to take what started as local campaign and share it widely to get the attention it deserves. Spreading festive cheer across the country, we can’t wait for listeners in North Derbyshire to join us out on our doorsteps this Christmas Eve.”

Christmas Eve Jingle organiser Mary Beggs-Reid said “We are so thrilled to have the support of Greatest Hits Radio in helping reach as many people as possible for the Christmas Eve Jingle. We can’t wait to bring hope, magic and the spirit of Christmas to communities across the country.”

Greatest Hits Radio launched in North Derbyshire in September this year, providing a playlist of the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s, including music from iconic artists such as Blondie, Queen, George Michael, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Elton John and Whitney Houston.

Listen in on FM, DAB digital radio, online, on your mobile device or smart speaker to hear well-known presenters including Simon Mayo, Mark Goodier, Janice Long, Pat Sharp, Paul Gambaccini and many more, along with a selection of seasonal hits this Christmas.

To find out more about the Worldwide Christmas Jingle and download a poster to show that you’re taking part, head to the Greatest Hits Radio website.

You can find out more about the wide range of Christmas activities taking place in Chesterfield here

Greatest Hits Radio supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Chesterfield puts the magic back into Christmas

Destination Chesterfield has launched the Christmas in Chesterfield campaign with some brand-new Christmas experiences, in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council.

It includes the magical story of the Chesterfield Elves and how they saved Christmas. The story is told through a series of Christmas experiences around Chesterfield Town Centre.

The Chesterfield Elves wanted to put the fun back into Christmas after a difficult year. The elves travelled to the North Pole over the summer and brought back some magic technology, which will bring Santa to Chesterfield in a unique and Covid-safe way, as well as a few other Christmas treats for everyone to enjoy.

The main experience is The Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House

The Santa House is where the elves have set up the magic technology known as the ‘Santa Zoomer’ – a video link to chat with Santa.

The Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House in Chesterfield Town Centre will open its doors on Saturday 5 December. As well as the chat with Santa via the video link to the North Pole, visitors will pose for a special Augmented Reality experience in which Santa will magically appear. A video of the Augmented Reality experience will be sent direct to the mobile phone of visitors at the end of the experience.

Also launching this December is The Spot the Chesterfield Elf Game (Elf Trail). This is a fun trail around Chesterfield Town Centre.

The Chesterfield Elves are letting everyone know where they live by giving a few clues to their locations. When an Elf is found, residents can scan the ‘QR Elf Code’ and gain access to a short story about the elf, as well as gift guides to Chesterfield’s fantastic range of independent shops, plus some special offers.
The full story of The Chesterfield Elves save Christmas, can be downloaded and is the perfect bedtime story for families.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Cabinet Member for Town Centres and Visitor Economy at Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “While this year, there won’t be the usual large-scale events in Chesterfield Town Centre, we have created these very special and unique experiences to make Christmas in Chesterfield fun and magical as it always is.

“It has been a tough year for many of us and the Santa House and Spot the Chesterfield Elf Game, will bring plenty of fun and show that Chesterfield can still celebrate Christmas.

“Public safety remains our priority and the Santa House experience has been designed to be Covid-safe. But can I ask everyone to play their part by wearing a face covering, to keep social distancing and follow the latest guidance, as by doing these few things, we will all have an enjoyable and healthy Christmas.”

Residents and visitors to Chesterfield will also be welcomed and wowed by our improved Christmas lighting, across the town centre, including redressed tree lights and some new light features that have a ‘snow fall’ effect.

Councillor Sarvent added: “The experiences won’t be found anywhere else; the improved Christmas lights will delight young and old; and the great shopping and hospitality, really will make Chesterfield a fantastic place to be this Christmas.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said “In these challenging times it has never been more important to support each other. I am delighted that Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council have continued this year to work collaboratively on the Christmas in Chesterfield Campaign. Combining our efforts will reinforce the Support Local message. Making the decision to choose an independent retailer for your gifts and food both now and beyond the pandemic will make a huge difference to our high street.”

Visits to the Amazing Magical Chesterfield Santa House must be pre-booked with bookings opening on 16 November 2020 from www.chesterfield.gov.uk/christmas or www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas

The Santa House will open on Saturday 5 December and run each Saturday and Sunday until 20 December. There is no charge to visit but spaces are limited. Extra dates may be announced.

The Christmas lights will sparkle from mid-November and The Spot the Chesterfield Elf Game launches on 7 December.

Full details on everything happening this Christmas, including gift guides and shopping offers for our many unique and independent shops can be found at chesterfield.co.uk/Christmas with further details on council services at Christmas at chesterfield.gov.uk/Christmas

 

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