Whitby Christmas Festival Opens Tonight

Whitby's Christmas Festival is getting underway today.

Last year's event fell foul of the weather but this year the event is going ahead.

There will be fireworks on Saturday night, but this evening will see the opening of the Christmas market and the switching of the towns new Christmas lights.

Phil Trumper is one of the organisers

The FREE weekend, organised by Whitby Town Council, will get underway from 5pm on Friday evening with festive stalls selling a variety of presents and delicious foods.

Town Mayor Cllr Linda Wild and special guests will officially get the proceedings underway at 6pm, including the big switch on of Whitby’s Christmas lights at 7pm. The lights will be switched on by Leah Hunter who recently passed out as an Inshore Lifeboat Helm, At the age of 26, Leah is the first female skipper of Whitby's Lifeboat.

Paddy will host the evening from the This is the Coast Stage along with mascot "Rover Reporter". There’ll also be live music from local band Skandals on the roadshow stage.

The festive market will continue over the weekend, along with Christmas entertainment, including the Whitby Community Choir, the Esk Valley Concert Band and Rocky Robins.

Saturday night will also a spectacular firework display

After last year's weather cancellation, Helen Berry from the town council says it's great to have the event back on.

Helen says the event will continue though the weekend with a packed programme on Saturday

And more activity on Sunday

Helen says there will also be the opportunity to be part of an interactive Christmas Decoration

Here is the full itinerary for the weekend.

Friday 18th of November 2022 (On the This is the Coast Radio Stage)

• 17.00:         Market Opened by Town Mayor Cllr Linda Wild and Guests.
• 17.10:         Stakesby Primary Academy Choir – (20 minutes)
• 18.00:         Town Mayor and Guests come on to the stage.
• 18.20:         Live Music
• 18.50:         Town Mayor, Celebrity and the winner of the Christmas card competition come onto the stage
• 19.00:         Christmas light switch on
• 19.15:         Live Music
• 20.00:         We close for the evening.

Saturday 19th of November (On the This is the Coast Radio Stage)

• 10.00:         Market Opens
• 11.00:         James Hutton (singer)
• 12.00          Living Snow Globe – around festival site
• 13.00          Grace Nagey (singer)
• 13.30          Whitby Community Choir
• 14.15          The Windmill Singers  
• 15.00          Esk Valley Concert Band    Living Snow Globe – around festival site
• 15.45          James Hutton  (singer)
• 16.30          Sweet Harmony – Female Saxophone group
• 17.15          Living Snow Globe – around festival site
• 18.00          Falsetto Frank and the Long Men
• 19.45:         Spectacular Fireworks Display
• 20.00:         We close for the evening

Sunday 20th of November  

• 10.00:         Market Opens         
• 10.30          Rocky Robins
• 11.00          Living Snow Globe – around festival site
• 12.00:         Rocky Robins
• 12.30:         The Living Snow Globe    – around festival site
• 13.00          Skelton Brass Band Quartet (to 1.30)
• 13.30          Rocky Robins
• 14.00          Junior Concert Band
• 14.30          North Skelton Brass Quartet (to 3pm)
• 15.00          Living Snow Globe – around festival site
• 16.00:         Close

Throughout the Weekend Father Christmas and his helpers will be in attendance.

A large scale, animated, illuminated book will be on site through Friday evening and Saturday telling the story of The night before Christmas.

The This is the Coast Roadshow Stage will be at the Event on Friday hosted by Paddy and again on Saturday with Paddy, Tom Hooper and Mike Nicholson.