Hundreds attend Inspire Buttermarket Christmas event and Artisan Market despite Christmas Light Switch-On cancellation
A town centre venue saw over 300 people attend its festive fun event after the planned Christmas Light Switch-On was cancelled due to bad weather.
Inspire Newark Buttermarket opened its doors on Sunday (November 24) to host an array of festive season activities suitable to all ages and abilities.
Despite the weather conditions brought by Storm Bert over the weekend, which led to the cancellation of Newark Town Council’s annual Christmas lights switch-on, the event was busy from 12noon to 4pm.
Clare Janes, manager at Inspire Buttermarket said: “It was great to meet lots of new people who were able to find out about all the courses we run at the Inspire Buttermarket - including everything from Christmas Macrame to Maths.
“We were also spreading the news about our music offer for young people on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings and the guitar lessons we run for adults on Tuesday evenings.”
Performances by the Victorian carol singers took place during the afternoon for 45 minute sets and the Inspire Advanced Music Ensemble performed on the Mezzanine floor.
Spirit the Snow Wolf and the Snow Queen and Raymond the baby Reindeer also made appearances.
The ‘make and take’ activities included lanterns and angels, as well as tree decorations, in which people created original decorations and took them home to decorate their own trees.
Clare added: “The Town Council Market team definitely made the right decision to cancel the Switch on due to Storm Bert, but as our event was located inside – we were glad to still be able to offer a bit of festive fun.”
Despite the bad weather, the indoor artisan market went ahead with a reduced number of traders and aw a lot of visitors throughout the day.
Traders had previously planned to open their stalls in the Market Place and for the first in many years, the Buttermarket welcomed an active indoor market trading offer.
Newark Town Council town clerk Matthew Gleadell said: “It is almost a year to the day when once again some high winds forecast forced us at that time to bring a number of stalls and traders indoors into the Buttermarket and Mezzanine.
“These were traders who had otherwise been planned for outdoor trading in gazebos as part of a Christmas market’.
“On the back of the success of the weather forced indoor offer, we sought to continue to deliver regular indoor artisan markets and they have happily continued over the last year.
“Thankfully there continues to be interest in indoor artisan markets from traders and operators alike with more indoor markets set to be delivered in 2025.
“The Buttermarket is a fabulous space and a truly special venue to host such trading activity and we are pleased to continue to support such an offer.”
On December 7 and 8, the Buttermarket will welcome the popular Steampunk market, Santas Grotto and the pop-up Painted Elephant shop alongside the Christmas Tree festival taking place on the Mezzanine.
Combined with outdoor traders and entertainment, much of it is planned for the Christmas Light Switch- On (November 24), the weekend will bring extra festive spirit to the town centre.
