It is with heavy hearts that we announce Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town will be closed this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday due to Storm Darragh and expected winds of 60mph+. Your safety is our top priority, and while this decision is devastating after a year of planning, it is the right one.
Those who have tickets booked for the weekend have been contacted by email.
Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town is a non-profit event created by Bridge Creative and Baccanalia For Culture CIC for our community and local businesses. Sadly, the best way we can serve you now is to prioritise your safety.
For safety reasons, please do not come to the site this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. If you have questions, please contact info@bishopaucklandschristmastown.co.uk
Stay safe,
Thomas & Ben
Unfortunately, we must confirm that the Santa’s Grotto and character meet & greets are also cancelled. While these activities were planned indoors, they are still located on-site, and accessing them safely is not possible due to weather conditions and high winds.
Safety Concerns: The site is unsafe to access with wind speeds forecast to exceed 60mph, posing serious risks to visitors and staff.
Operational Challenges: Operating the grotto requires staff movement outside, and the box office is situated in the marketplace. With the entire site being packed down in a short timeframe before conditions worsen, continuing these activities is unfortunately not feasible.
We share in your disappointment and deeply regret having to make this decision. Your safety and that of our team is always our priority.
We understand that the weather today (Friday) may appear calm; however, our decision to close Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town was made based on thorough weather analysis and safety assessments.
The safety of our visitors, staff, and community is always our top priority. While the weather today may appear fine, the logistical process of taking the site down needs to be factored in.
We understand that refunds are a priority for those affected by the cancellation of Bishop Auckland's Christmas Town, and we are committed to resolving this as quickly as possible. When an event is cancelled under these circumstances, several steps must be followed:
As a non-profit event, we don’t have large financial reserves to draw on. Your refund will be issued as soon as we settle our accounts and finalise further support. We ask for your patience as we diligently navigate these processes to ensure ticket holders are reimbursed. Once we have reached step 4, we may be able to issue refunds sooner, but please allow us some time to work towards this. We will keep you updated every step of the way and work as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.
Bishop Auckland is fast becoming known as the Christmas Capital of the North and our 2024 programme is set to dazzle with a full 10-day celebration of festive magic. From Friday, 29th November to Sunday, 8th December, the town’s historic market square will be transformed into a winter wonderland, delivering an unforgettable festive experience for visitors of all ages.
Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town is produced by Baccanalia & Bridge Creative and continues to thrive thanks to the generous support of our principal partner, Bishop Auckland Town Council, and sponsor, Bishop Auckland College, plus our partnerships with local businesses and organisations including The Newgate Shopping Centre, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, and The Auckland Project.
Entry to Christmas Town is free, however we do have a selection of events and attractions that require a ticket.
Book tickets below now
or call 01388 540823 (11am-3pm, Monday - Thursday)
View the full programme here.
Be The First To Find Out When New Events Are Announced!
Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town is situated in the heart of Bishop Auckland.
The Christmas Village in the Market Place will feature market stalls offering hot and cold food, an ice rink, traditional carousel, ferris wheel and more.
Santa's Workshop in the Newgate Centre will host Santa's Grotto and stalls selling gifts.
No.42 in the Market Place will have hold a variety of craft stalls.
The historic Fore-Bondgate has many independent shops to browse.
Friday 29th November - 16:00 - 21:00* (23.30)
Saturday 30th November - 10:00 - 20:00* (23.30)
Sunday 1st November - 10:00 - 18:00
Monday 2nd December - 15:00 - 20:00
Tuesday 3rd December - 15:00 - 20:00
Wednesday 4th December - 15:00 - 20:00
Thursday 5th December - 15:00 - 20:00* (22.30)
Friday 6th December - 16:00 - 21:00* (23.30)
Saturday 7th December - 10:00 - 20:00* (23.30)
Sunday 8th December - 10:00 - 18:00
*Please note that ticketed shows in the Giant Tipi Bars will continue after the official closing times on certain days.
Details of our programme are available above. Tickets can also be booked from there.
Stay tuned to our Facebook or sign-up to our mailing list for the latest programme updates.
Entry to Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town is free and does not require a ticket. Some activities will require a ticket, which can be booked in advance via our website or at the event via our box office. Tickets are available now.
A booking fee of 50p is applied per ticket to cover banking charges. This fee is not retained by the organisers of Christmas Town. The total booking fee for a single transaction will not exceed £2. To minimise fees, we recommend purchasing all your Christmas Town tickets in a single transaction.
Card payments are preferred and encouraged. Some attractions and traders will accept cash.
The majority of Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town will be accessible for all, though some activities, such as the Traditional Rides, will not be wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets will be available inside Mrs. M, No.42, Bishop Auckland Town Hall and at the Christmas Village. For specific access enquiries, please get in touch here.
Public toilets are located inside Mrs. M, No.42 and Bishop Auckland Town Hall. Toilets will also be available at the Christmas Village.
The official car park for Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town is the Newgate Centre Car-Park (DL14 7JQ). The car park will be open until 9pm on all event days aside from Sundays when the car park will close at 7pm. North-Bondgate Car Park and Kingsway Square Car Park will also be open 24 hours a day.
We strongly encourage the use of public transport to access the event as car-parks will be incredibly busy due to Christmas Town and AGLOW. Roads will also be closed in the Market Place which may also increase congestion.
Access from North Bondgate to Wear Chare, Silver Street, Castle Chare & Durham Road will be maintained via the one-way system running behind the Town Hall towards Durham Road. Castle Chair will, therefore, be inaccessible from Durham Road, and road users should enter the area via North Bondgate.
Fore Bondgate will be closed to traffic during the event but will be open between 6-11am, Monday 2nd - Friday 6th December.
Road Closures will be in place 24 hours a day, from 7pm, 28th November until 00.01am, 9th December.
Bishop Auckland Train Station is a 10-15 minute walk away from the Market Place. The station is accessible via the Saltburn, Middlesbrough, Darlington line, which stops at 16 stops on its journey. For those travelling from Durham, changing at Darlington will allow you to travel to Bishop Auckland.
Dogs are welcome at Christmas Town but must be kept on leads, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them.
The following items are not allowed within the licensed event site:
There will be both hot and cold food & drink available to purchase from a variety of stalls. Details of these stalls will be released as we approach the event.
No, AGLOW tickets must be booked via The Auckland Project website.
This Christmas, Auckland Palace’s AGLOW will illuminate the night with spectacular displays. Discover a magical experience, fun for all ages, filled with stunning illuminations and festive charm.
Auckland Palace invites you to explore its grand interiors, beautifully transformed for the festive season. Explore rooms filled with holiday charm and celebrate the season in a truly enchanting setting.
Climb aboard the Santa Express for a magical journey through the heart of Weardale! This enchantingly festive train ride brings Christmas to life with lively performances, holiday treats, and a visit from Santa himself.
Our very own Christmas celebration returns for 2024, featuring market stalls, giant tipi bars, traditional fairground rides, an ice rink, Santa’s grotto, live entertainment and much, much more!
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