Festivities aplenty at Leeds Kirkgate Market

FESTIVE FEEL: Kirkgate Market is hosting a flurry of activities in the run-up to Christmas.

As part of the festive fun Santa himself will be in residence every Saturday in December.

Youngsters can visit him in his grotto for a £1 donation to Candlelighters children’s charity, and can post their letters to him in a special Santa Post Box situated in the Information Centre until 5pm on Saturday, December 16.

There will be festive fun for all the family with pop-up performances from Front Room Productions who will be performing Twas the night  before Christmas every Saturday in December between 11am-2pm.

Shoppers will also be able to enjoy an extra few shopping days before the big day, with the indoor market opening on the two Sundays leading up to Christmas from 10am until 4pm.

Leeds City Councillor Jonathan Pryor, lead member for markets, said: “We have arranged a host of Christmas themed activities to help visitors to Kirkgate Market really get the festive feeling. “As well as the special visits from Santa and fantastic performances, we also have the usual fresh and quality produce and friendly knowledgeable traders.”

A giant Christmas tree will add to the festive atmosphere and this year it will also be a ‘giving tree’. Shoppers are being asked to buy one extra gift that can be donated to a child through Candlelighters.

Those shoppers donating gifts will also be entered into a free prize draw.

Coun Pryor added: “Our new ‘giving tree’ will also be a great opportunity for our shoppers to demonstrate what  Christmas is really about, by donating gifts to children who are living with cancer.”