Durham Christmas Festival, Centre of Durham on Friday-Sunday
Three days, with a wide range of festive entertainment for all the family in and around the World Heritage Site of the Cathedral and the Castle and throughout the City Centre.

The huge, heated craft and gift marquee on Palace Green will feature over 185 stalls. It's open Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday, 9am to 6pm and Sunday, 10am to 4:30pm. 
In the Cathedral Cloisters, the Regional Producers' Market featuring more than 30 traders will be open each day. Durham Market Hall will also be open each day of the Christmas Festival, and there will be additional Festive Markets in Durham Market Place and Millennium Place. 
In the Cathedral itself, Carols for All services take place on both Saturday and Sunday. Weekend entertainment on Palace Green, between the Cathedral and the Castle, will include a static falconry display, children’s arts and crafts in the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre, and a children’s entertainer.

There will also be a wide range of entertainers and musicians throughout the city centre adding to the wonderfully festive atmosphere. 

Music and Lights, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Ripon, on Saturday/Sunday, plus most night in December 
Step into the Christmas spirit, see the abbey ruins bright with coloured light most weekends. Mulled wine, hot pulled pork sandwiches and carolling from local choirs and bands will provide the perfect antidote to high street havoc. Father Christmas will be in his cosy grotto on weekends. 3:30pm-5:00pm. 01765-643198. 

The Northern Echo: Christmas market, Stockton Arc, on Saturday, 10-4pm
There will be plenty of crafty delights from small independent businesses from across the North-East.
Stalls will include hand crafted jewellery, homemade tree decorations, hand-made sculptures, adorable Christmas felt critters, beautiful home-made cards, garden decorations, and plenty of other trinkets and treats perfect for Christmas presents. Admission free.

New Orleans Jazz Club with The Yorkshire Stompers, St Augustines Parish Centre, Darlington, on Saturday, 12.30pm
Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club is the brainchild of Ray Sams and Graham Foster, who are proud of the fact that they have been playing their part in keeping jazz alive in the town since 1996. “We have live bands performing 11 months of the year” said Ray, “and one of the things that our guest performers always say is that they appreciate the part that the audience is playing in making it possible for them to tour and perform live”. 

The Northern Echo: The Mischief Before Christmas, Theatre Royal, York, from Saturday, runs until December 24
A magical, mischievous adventure for 3- to 7-year-olds and their grown-ups. Once upon a time there were two rather mischievous Christmas spirits. They would travel the land with a twinkle in their eye, looking for a place to tell their stories – the perfect place, just right for a little mischief, a sprinkling of Christmas magic and a huge dollop of fun. State of Play Theatre are back this Christmas with their interactive adventure, bursting with festive spirit, life-size puppets, an elf named Frank and a girl called Sophie. Join the journey around the beautifully refurbished York Theatre Royal on an adventure fizzing with magic, mystery and music! Just perfect to get you and your family in the festive spirit. 
Please note this is a promenade performance: audience members will be required to move around the theatre. Tickets on 01904-623568.

Decked for Christmas including Christmas gift fair, Kiplin Hall, Richmond on Friday-Sunday
This year’s theme is Christmas Carols, which are depicted in flowers and fresh greenery throughout the house.
A drum, lent by Richmond’s Green Howards Museum, ships, a manger, a castle, eight Christmas trees, holly and ivy, flowers and fresh greenery and much more have been used to represent well-loved carols, including The Little Drummer Boy; Hark the Herald Angels Sing and The Holly and the Ivy. Good King Wenceslas looks out in the Dining Room; We Three Kings have arrived in the Travellers’ Bedroom; three ships are sailing through the Admiral’s Study and in all the other rooms traditional carols are brought to mind. 
Unusual and interesting gifts will be on sale at the Christmas Gift fair, which is held in the Maryland Centre. Local craftspeople and traders have much to offer on their stalls and this is a chance to chat with the craftspeople who have made prints and paintings, jewellery, original artwork, handbags, walking sticks and more. 10-4pm. Also on December 9-11. Admission £8.65, concessions £7.80, child £4.40. Family (2+3) £23.60.