Around 300 school children and their families will take part in lamplit procession through the streets of Whitley Bay, marking the start of a weekend filled with festivities.
For the 17th year, the ever-popular St Nicholas Festival returns to Whitley Bay onDecember 4 and 5.
Organised by North Tyneside Council, the festival includes a Christmas market, children’s fairground rides, carol signing, entertainment and storytelling about St Nicholas.
And on the evening of Friday 4 December, children from local schools will get the festivities underway by carrying their own handmade lanterns during a parade through the seaside town.
The schools include Star of the Sea RC Primary School and Marine Park, Whitley Lodge and Rockcliffe first schools.
Ahead of the event, James Hannah, headteacher at Star of the Sea, said: “We’re pleased to be taking part in the parade again – it creates such a magical and festive feeling in Whitley Bay.
“Our pupils really enjoy joining in with the other children during the procession and have lots of fun while making their lanterns at school.”
Cllr Eddie Darke, cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, added: “St Nicholas Festival is always a very popular event, attracting visitors from around the region, and it’s the perfect way to get into the festive spirit.
“I’d like to thank all the children for helping to mark the start of the festival – the glowing lanterns against the backdrop of a dark evening makes for quite a spectacular scene.”
The parade takes place on Friday 4 December, beginning at 4.15pm from Marine Park First School. The route goes along Park View, past the many shops, to St Paul’s Church. Carol singing and story-telling about St Nicholas will then take place inside the church.
On the same day, the Christmas market opens at lunchtime in the town centre, with dozens of stallholders selling a range of items, and continues all day Saturday.
A calendar of photographs of Whitley Bay taken by North Tyneside residents will also be on sale, priced at £5 each.
The Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade, Whitley Bay Rotary Club and St Paul’s Church are all supporting this year’s event.
And as part of this year’s festival, the Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade has also organised a fayre, taking place on Saturday 5 December, at Whitley Bay Metro station, from 11am to 3pm.
St Nicholas Festival is part of North Tyneside Council’s Winter Festival programme, which this year includes several Christmas markets, free festive film screenings, appearances by Santa Claus and lots more.
For more information, go to www.visitnorthtyneside.com.
