City centre partners working together for a bumper Christmas
28/10/2014
HullBID is to throw its support behind a packed programme of festive events to help ensure city centre businesses enjoy a bumper Christmas.
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID City Centre Manager, and her team will partner with city centre businesses and other organisations to promote the exciting activities planned for November and December to attract more shoppers and revellers.
Kathryn said: "Every Christmas we look very carefully at how we can get the best return on the money which HullBID invests on behalf of city centre businesses.
"It was clear to us when we looked at this year's programme that we could work with both private and public partners to enhance existing events and activities by injecting additional funds to create a 'wow' factor. We've also added a new attraction for 2014 which will see further footfall coming into Hull city centre.
The first big festive attraction will be the Princes Quay Santa Parade on Sunday 16 November. Already signed up for the parade are a Scottish band, the land train, a roller derby team and a mini convoy of reindeer look-a-like cars.
The parade will set off from Hull New Theatre at 11am and will pass through the main city centre shopping streets. Members of the public will be welcome to join in as it makes its way to Princes quay where Santa will climb down from his horse-drawn carriage and head for his Frozen-themed grotto.
Thursday 27 November will see the switch-on of Hull's Christmas lights in Queen Victoria Square and on Saturday 29 November HullBID will once again partner with Hull Museums and Heritage Learning for Victorian Christmas, a day of festive family activities which last year attracted around 10,000 people into the Old Town and this year will feature an outdoor ice rink.
The event will again include a Victorian-themed open market coordinated by BID member Julie Buffey. Julie is also partnering with HullBID to organise an Elf-themed Chrismas market with live reindeerin King Edward street on Saturday 13 December. To coincide with the ever popular Holy Trinity Church live nativity event on Saturday 20 December she will also be arranging a market inside the church.
Kathryn added: "Our Christmas campaign will be about getting people into Hull for a family-friendly day out. There are not many cities that can boast such a wide-range of retailers with an abundance of niche independents that provide something different, and with so much free activity to entertain the children we hope people will choose to come to Hull."
"The market in King Edward Street will see the return of the elves which were very popular in the past. Like the market in Holy Trinity Church, it will feature traditional gifts and food and stallholders will include businesses from Hull and the surrounding area.
"The live nativity promises to be one of the highlights of the festive season and will underline the significance of Holy Trinity Church, which is increasingly at the heart of so many social and cultural - as well as religious - events."
We would again urge our BID members to take advantage of advertising their Christmas and New Year offers free of charge on our newly-updated Christmas in Hull website www.christmasinhull.co.uk to be revealed shortly.
In 2013 there were over 11,000 visits to the site and we're confident 2014 will attract even more viewers; details of all city events and activity will also be posted. to post your offers contact francesca@hullbid.co.uk or telephone 01482 611 850.
