christmas shopping

Chair’s blog: “Make a difference to independent businesses this Christmas”

Christmas is approaching rapidly, which means we’ll soon see Chesterfield lit up once again. With twinkly lights, trees dressed in tinsel, and our favourite festive tunes on repeat, it’s a truly exciting time for everyone.

With so many activities to enjoy in the town, you can make many precious memories with your loved ones this Christmas period.

Regular events like the Christmas Lights Switch On, the Crooked Spire’s Festival of Christmas Trees, and the pantomime are returning. I’m very much looking forward to this year’s production of Aladdin, which will be headlined by The Chase star, Anne Hegerty… Oh yes, it will!

In our historic town centre, festive editions of the Chesterfield Artisan Market provide plenty of opportunity to source some of your favourite festive goodies. The regular market will also trade every day from Thursday 14th December, right up until Christmas Eve, making sure you can stock up on all your favourites before the big day.

And that’s not all… Santa Claus is coming to town once again! He’ll be back in his grotto at Chesterfield Market Hall, offering a chance for your youngsters to meet the man himself. You’ll also be able to catch Santa on Chesterfield Canal, so keep your eye out for their special cruises.

We’re getting into the festive spirit at Destination Chesterfield, by encouraging you to shop, eat, drink, and spend time in the local area this Christmas. We’re supporting local businesses by showcasing the best gifts, experiences and produce in the area.

Last year’s ‘Christmas in Chesterfield’ campaign was seen more than a million times online. This time around, we’re hoping to inspire more people to see what the town has to offer.

There are plenty of ways you can support Chesterfield over the festive period. Whether you’re buying gifts from local retailers or going for a meal in one of the town’s superb restaurants. We know that high streets across the country are facing challenges, so anything you can do to support your small businesses will make a big difference.

That said, businesses need your support all year round to sustain themselves and make our town thrive. We all have a daily choice whether to use the online giants or to take those extra few moments to see if we can source a product or service locally. It is simple – we use it, or we lose it.

I’ll leave you with a quote which I read recently from the team at Adorn Jewellers, based in The Shambles, one of many unique independent businesses in our town. – They said: “Christmas is a time for joy and hope. By choosing independent businesses this year, you will help to keep Chesterfield a vibrant town and bring happiness to our small business community.”

For more details on the great activities taking place across Chesterfield this festive season, go to www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas/

Chesterfield Christmas Lights Switch On & Market

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Christmas, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Families to be treated to a magical Christmas in Chesterfield this year

Christmas in Chesterfield is set to be a magical experience for all – with new Christmas themed experiences and festive favourites returning.

Chesterfield Borough Council, in partnership with Destination Chesterfield, has launched its signature Christmas in Chesterfield campaign with lots of events and activities planned to encourage visitors to support local retailers this Christmas.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Last year our Christmas celebrations looked a bit different because of the pandemic but this year we’ve taken the most popular experiences from last year and brought back some of the festive favourites to create a magical Christmas experience for all visitors.

“Christmas is a fantastic time of year that everyone can enjoy and we not only want to create experiences that will create memories we also want to encourage visitors to shop local and support our town centre retailers and market traders.”

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said: “I am delighted that in person events can resume this year. It is a great boost to the town’s businesses based in and around the town centre. The Christmas festivities and events are a key part of town centre life and why so many people choose to visit at this time of year. With the great events programme and the town’s wealth of independent retailers and food and drink businesses, there are even more reason for all the family to Love Chesterfield this Christmas.”

After being cancelled last year the Christmas Lights Switch on event will return on Sunday 21 November. There will also be a market on this day from 12pm.

The Amazing Magical Santa House, which proved to be very popular last year, will be open for families to visit for free in the Assembly Rooms above the Market Hall on every Saturday and Sunday, from Saturday 4 December plus Monday 20, Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 December 2021. Booking opens at 9am on Monday 15 November at: https://chesterfieldchristmas.co.uk/

Families will be able to follow the Christmas Elf Trail from Monday 22 November until Tuesday 4 January. This experience will guide visitors around the town centre whilst they hunt for the magical elves.

The Christmas Tree Festival will take place at St Mary’s and All Saints Church (Crooked Spire) between 18 – 28 November. It features a variety of Christmas trees decorated by community groups and individuals.

Following on from successful walkabout entertainment over the summer, a series of entertainers including stilt walkers and tap-dancing turkeys will be wowing crowds during market days.

Chesterfield Canal Trust will be hosting trips with Santa along the canal across December, find out more about this event on the trust’s website: www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/santa-specials

Revolution House in Old Whittington will be open for a traditional Christmas celebration from Thursday 9 December to Friday 24 December between 11am and 3pm. Holymoorside Brass Band will be hosting a carol concert in the garden from 6.30pm on Thursday 9 December.

The Pomegranate Theatre will be hosting its popular pantomime again. This year visitors will be able to see Beauty and the Beast between 3 December and 2 January. Stars include west end star Suzanne Shaw, Britain’s Got Talent winner Thomas Redgrave, Andrew Fleming also of Britain’s Got Talent and Derbyshire’s own Rosanne Priest. Tickets are available on the Chesterfield Theatres website: www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

There will also be a selection of market events including the Record Fair and Artisan Market on Sunday 19 December.

Councillor Kate Sarvent added: “Our Christmas programme is packed and we’ve tried to ensure there is something for everyone to enjoy. I hope lots of visitors will come along to celebrate Christmas in Chesterfield with us.”

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

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Christmas, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , ,

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

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Christmas, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,