Markets and festive fun in Peterborough ahead of Christmas

An array of markets and performances will bring festive fun to Peterborough city centre over the next few weekends.

Shoppers heading in over December to get their Christmas presents will be able to enjoy a wide range of food and drink options, as well as family-filled entertainment.

The weekend of 18 and 19 December will be particularly exciting, with a new micro-brewery and distillery market on the Saturday, and the return of the Vegan Market on Sunday.

Both will feature alongside Unlocking Peterborough, a free family festival of circus, music and art which concludes over the two days.

The event, presented by Peterborough Positive and funded by the Welcome Back fund, has featured an exciting and unique programme of events and a Christmas winter wonderland.

Cllr Steve Allen, cabinet member for housing, culture and communities, said: “Covid has impacted on our Christmas celebrations this year but there is still so much to enjoy over the coming weekends.

“I know the return of the Vegan Market will be hugely welcomed by many of our residents, and I am delighted for the first time we can offer a new micro-brewery and distillery market which, if successful, we would like to bring back in future years.

“Both of these will feature alongside the last weekend of Unlocking Peterborough which has been really popular since it began in October, and I can’t wait to see the final performances bring the city centre to life.”

The festive fun begins this weekend (11 and 12 December) from 1pm with the mesmerising Winter Fairy, a snow-kissed figure who will leave audiences in awe as she conjures crystal balls and skilfully moves them like ice bubbles.

Zooming around will be the Roller Skating Illuminated Presents, fitted in giant present costumes with twinkling illuminations, while the Christmas Belles are a ribbon-waving, stilt-walking duo who ring out yuletide chimes of good cheer with hand chimes.

The grand finale will take place the following weekend (18 and 19 December). There will be aerial acrobatics from Octo on Saturday and Sunday, plus a street theatre show called Spark! on Sunday which combines high-impact drumming with a kaleidoscopic lighting design.

That same weekend will see the launch of a new micro-brewery and distillery market which is planned for the Saturday down Bridge Street. The new event, run by the council, will feature a mixture of gin and craft beers for people to taste and purchase.

And the Sunday sees the return of the Peterborough Vegan Market, also in Bridge Street, with up to 35 stalls including a huge variety of vegan street food, artisan bakes, craft cheeses, handmade cosmetics, ethical clothing and jewellery, arts and crafts and charity stalls.

All have been created by a hand-picked selection of talented, ethical and sustainable businesses.

The market will run from 10.30am to 4pm.

Outdoor events are the best way to have fun and stay safe during the pandemic, but residents are being asked to take a rapid lateral flow test before you set out and isolate and get a follow up PCR if this is positive.