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Barney's Christmas Season Starts With A Swing

09/12/2009

The Christmas season began with a swing in Barnard Castle last Saturday as the Christmas Farmers Market and ‘Shop Till You Drop’ took place in the town centre across the day. 

As part of the event, members of the public were encouraged to ‘get crafty’ on several stalls provided by the town’s arts and crafts community on activities include leather work with Karen Beenie, card-making with Anne Mason and decoration-making with Gillian Tallentire. Street entertainment was provided by a juggler, stilt-walker and a fire artist after dark, while musical entertainment included music by the Barney Band and the Good Company Recorder Group. 

The Christmas Farmers Market, which ran until 6.30 pm, featured a wide selection of seasonal produce including everything for the perfect Christmas meal. At the end of the day, local resident Mrs Freeman won the Market’s free raffle giveaway and received a Shop Local Barney Bag filled with a selection of Christmas produce from the stalls, leaving her well-prepared for the festive season. 

As part of the ‘Shop Till You Drop’ initiative, many of the retailers along the High Street also opened their doors till late to join in the celebrations, and took part in a Christmas Window Dressing competition run by The Meet. This year’s winner, sporting an eye-catching Christmas tree and Christmas lighting in the shop window, was Fiona Brookes of Brookes Tailoring, who was presented with her trophy during the day by The Meet’s 2009 Queen, Sarah Kelly. 

“We were delighted with the turnout on Saturday and would particularly like to thank all those who helped to make the day such a success,” comments Barnard Castle Vision’s Annalisa Ward. “The day has been about celebrating the very best that Barnard Castle has to offer, and we have been delighted by the support of so many groups around the town in enabling this to happen. We would like to thank all those who took part and hope very much to repeat the event next year.” 

Following on from Saturday’s festivities, Barnard Castle will also play host to a wide range of events throughout December organised by Artworks and the Barney Guild. Short demonstrations and free ‘try it’ sessions by Barney’s local artists and businesses include Winter Watercolours with Anne Mason, Quick Canapes from Andrew Rowbotham from the Riverside Restaurant at the Swan, Christmas meat with Stuart McFarlane, Festive Felt with Brooke Rosengarten, Christmas Decorations with Leah Hobson, Weaving with Anne Walker (booking required) and Get Knitting with Sally Lincoln from Buttons and Bowes, who is running a full length workshop on 12th December, followed by a 30 minute workshop for children on 19th December. There will also be a Face Painter and Caricaturist at Costa Coffee on 19th December from 11.00 onwards.

The events on offer are listed in detail in information leaflets available across the town. For further information on the workshops sessions, contact Annalisa Ward or Gillian Branch on 01833 696263.