Beverley Festival of Christmas

Sunday 13th December 2026, 10am to 4pm

The UK's biggest single day Christmas market is back. On Sunday 13th December 2026, the historic town of Beverley transforms into a Christmas wonderland for one extraordinary day with more than 120 stalls, a spectacular parade, Santa and his reindeer, live music drifting through the winter air and everything you need to make your Christmas feel truly special. Whether you're joining us for the first time or this is your annual tradition, there's no better way to get into the Christmas spirit.

What to expect

Beverley Festival of Christmas is a day unlike any other. The festival spreads across Saturday Market, Wednesday Market, and North Bar, each area bringing its own festive character, filled with stalls, entertainment and atmosphere. The day begins with a spectacular parade leaving Wednesday Market at 10am, winding down Toll Gavel to Saturday Market. Santa Claus himself leads the procession, joined by the full reindeer ensemble, live music, comedy acts, Steampunks and Bernese Mountain Dogs. After the parade, Santa takes up residence in Saturday Market until mid afternoon - the perfect photo opportunity for little ones.  Throughout the day you'll find traditional fairground rides, birds of prey on display, face painting, ice sculptures,brass bands and carol singers filling the air with festive sound. The stalls offer everything from handmade gifts and artisan food to unique Christmas decorations and locally made produce - more than 120 of them across the town centre, all carefully curated to make this the most special shopping day of your Christmas season. 

The festival runs from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free.

30 years of Christmas magic

Beverley Festival of Christmas was established in 1995 by local shop owner John Bird, who rallied the town's traders to create something extraordinary - a single day of Christmas magic that would bring Beverley to life in a way nothing else could. Thirty years later, what John started has grown into one of the most beloved Christmas events in the UK, attracting tens of thousands of visitors every December.  John's legacy lives on in the festival's best-dressed stall award, which bears his name, and members of his family join the parade each year in his honour. It's that sense of community that makes the Beverley Festival of Christmas feel genuinely special, not just a Christmas market, but a tradition worth being part of.  2026 marks the festival's 30th year and we hope you'll join us in celebrating.

Plan ahead and make a day of it

The festival is one day and one day only, but Beverley has plenty to offer before and after the market closes. Explore the Beverley Minster Christmas Tree Festival, discover the Reindeer Rampage trail through the town's independent shops, or stay for dinner in one of Beverley's brilliant restaurants and end the day properly.  And if you want to make a full weekend of it, Beverley has some excellent places to stay, from cosy B&Bs to stylish hotels right in the heart of the town.

Plan your visit · Find out what else is on in Beverley · Discover where to stay in Beverley

Are you a stallholder?

Interested in having a stall at the Beverley Festival of Christmas? Find out how to apply, what you need to know and how to get involved.

Stallholder information