Countdown to Christmas festival (From The Northern Echo)

Countdown to Christmas festival

3:39pm Tuesday 1st December 2009

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A CITY’S Christmas Festival takes place this weekend, with crafts, festive activities and a magical lantern parade planned.

A craft and gift fair with more than 150 stalls and a gourmet food hall will be held in a marquee on Palace Green, Durham, between Friday, December 4, and Sunday, December 6.

A local producers’ food fair will be held in Durham Cathedral cloisters on Saturday, December 5.

Free pony and trap rides around Palace Green with Jingo the Pony will be available to children during Saturday and Sunday.

Several Durham University buildings around Palace Green will be open to the public.

There will be live cooking demonstrations in the Pemberton Rooms throughout the weekend.

An exhibition of illuminated manuscripts will be on display in Palace Green Library, on Saturday, December 5.

Sessions titled Treasures of Durham University Library will be held at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Visitors are advised to pre-book their place.

Guided tours of Durham Castle will be available between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Charges apply. A static falconry display will be set up on the approach to the Castle.

A temporary ice rink will be open outside the former bowling alley, on Freeman’s Place, from Friday, December 4.

A free Christmas family fun day will be held at The Durham Centre, on Belmont Industrial Estate, on Saturday, December 5, between 1pm and 4pm.

The traditional St Nicholas Lantern Parade will see 300 children process from Millennium Place to Durham Cathedral, setting off on Saturday, December 5, at 3.45pm. A short service will be held in Durham Cathedral at 4.15pm. Lanterns will be provided.

A few free places are still available. Call Ben Simpson on 0191-375-2813.

The annual Grand Durham Duck Race, which was postponed last month due to the height of the River Wear, has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 6. A total of 20,000 rubber ducks will be released into the river from Elvet Bridge.

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