October 19, 2011 4.23 pm This story is over 149 months old

Bumper Christmas festivities to follow ‘tough year’

Attractions: Besides the traditional Christmas Market, there are plenty of events and attractions planned for the city centre this winter.

Bumper Christmas celebrations are planned for Lincoln following what Lincoln BIG Chief Executive Matt Corrigan called “a tough year” for local businesses.

Corrigan said: “It’s been a tough year, and with the loss of last year’s Christmas Market it’s really important to make the city centre as bright and cheery as we possibly can to attract customers to the city this Christmas.”

Twenty-four High Street stores will display bright red illuminated advent boxes for the advent calendar trail, each filled with £100 worth of presents.

For instance, one prize will see the head chef from the White Hart Hotel in Bailgate cooking-up a special meal in that shopper’s home.

People will be encouraged to pop into the city centre, Steep Hill and Bailgate areas every day, to see what the latest box to be unveiled contains.

The trail will culminate in one lucky person winning £2,400 worth of prizes (which might include gift vouchers), such as £100 worth of goods from each box.

As an additional attraction on the day their box is unveiled, some businesses will offer shoppers an extra treat, which could be a small giveaway or a discount offer.

These treats can be claimed by quoting a code word, such as ‘reindeer’, which would be unveiled on the day on Twitter and Facebook.

As previously reported, there won’t be an ice rink in the city centre this year due to financial constraints.

Lincoln’s official Christmas lights switch-on will also take place on Thursday, November 17, at 7pm.

“Family attractions include the arrival of Santa and his Sleigh on November 26 (10-4pm); a Farmers’ Market on December 2, and Carousel Rides on December 3 and 4. These are all taking place in City Square,” Corrigan added.

“On December 8 at 6pm reindeer from Scotland will walk from Bailgate to the Cornhill and we have also organised a children’s lantern parade for December 15.

“The parade will leave the Cornhill and make its way up Steep Hill to Castle Hill for a Nativity service.

From December 1 to 22, St Mark’s Square will also host the return of the Moroccan market, which was very popular with city shoppers this month.

The traditional Christmas Market will take place from December 1 to 4.

Source: Lincoln BIG | Photo: Lincoln Christmas Market