The festive season got underway in Ryedale at the weekend.
Norton’s Christmas lights switch-on was held on Sunday with Santa arriving in his sleigh to help turn the lights on.
Pickering’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on Saturday, November 26, from 3pm until 6pm.
The event will be compered by Magic Mike and include entertainment from the Tuneless Choir, St Joseph’s School Choir and Stape Silver Band, along with stalls, food, games and free fairground rides.
Helmsley’s lights switch-on will take place on Friday, December 2 at 5.30pm.
The town crier will switch on the lights and there will be entertainment followed by the Christmas Tree Festival Lights switch-on which takes place from 6.20pm in Helmsley Parish Church.
Thornton-le-Dale’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on Saturday, December 3 with activities starting at 4.30pm.
There will be a barbecue, mince pies, hog roast, mulled wine, tombola and Santa, along with music featuring the E.A.S.Y Band.
Malton’s Christmas Festival is back once again and runs across two days on the first weekend of December.
Ryedale Folk Museum is once more hosting its very special ‘Christmas Through Time’ will take place during the weekend of December 3 and 4, with a focus on the changing traditions and festivities.
Meanwhile, Malton, Norton & District Lions Santa’s sleigh is back in business in December delivering magic in Malton, Norton and nearby villages in the run up to Christmas.
Santa will be out and about again helping the Lions raise thousands of pounds to support vulnerable families and people in need.
Lion President, Pauline Lowry, said: “Santa will be taking his sleigh to see children right across Ryedale for 17 nights in December.
“We are asking children and families who want to see him to wave from their doorsteps and windows as Santa is still a bit worried about Covid and needs to make sure he is well enough to pop down chimneys on Christmas Eve. The elves are also keen to make sure everyone stays safe and well, so won’t be door knocking again this year.”
Anyone who would like to help the Lions support a whole range of good causes can make a donation by going to http://easydonate.org/VPNA08 And for the first time ever Santa is going to bring along his card reader on the sleigh so donations can be made by card!
Pauline added: “We know how much youngsters and their families look forward to Father Christmas calling. This year is going to be a tough one for many people due to the cost of living crisis so we hope we can bring some Christmas magic to Ryedale in the run up to the festive season.
“Santa is always keen to help us raise money to help local people and we are grateful to everyone – including our amazing sponsors who make sure the reindeer are fed and watered each night - for their generous support.
“We were thrilled by the amount we raised in 2021 and we hope Santa and and his merry bunch of elves will help us raise even more this year.”
SLEIGH ROUTES and DATES
Thurs 1st Dec
Wentworth St, Broughton Rise, Horsemarket Rd, The Mount, Middlecave to Castle Howard Rd
Friday 2nd Dec
Broughton, Broughton Manor, Showground Road, Copperfield Close & Ryngwoode Drive
Sat 3rd Dec Hovingham, Fryton, Slingsby, Barton & Appleton
Sun 4th Dec
West Knapton, West Heslerton, Sherburn, Wintringham
Mon 5th Dec
Old Malton, Kirby Misperton, Barugh, Brawby & Butterwick
Tues 6th Dec
St Peter’s St/Cres, Langton Road from church, Sutton St., St Nicholas. St., Springfield Garth, Welham Road, Station Way
Wed 7th Dec
Sheriff Hutton, Terrington, Coneysthorpe
Thurs 8th Dec
Thixendale, Leavening, Burythorpe, Langton & Birdsall
Fri 9th Dec
Langton Rd from church, The Ridings, Millside, Stables Est., Sutton Grange Estl., Langley Drive through to Beverley Rd Est.
Sat 10th Dec
Scampston, Rillington, Thorpe Bassett, Scagglethorpe, Settrington
Sun 11th Dec
Lilling, Flaxton, Thornton le Clay, Foston, Whitwell, Crambe, Westow & Eddlethorpe
Mon 12th Dec
Deansfield Ct Furlongs Ave, Beverley Rd, Dean Rd, Howe Rd, Eastfield Rd, Mill St., Commercial St. to Parliament St
Tues 13th Dec
Bulmer, Welburn, Crambeck, Huttons Ambo & Milton Ridge
Wed 14th Dec
East Mount, Highfield Road, White Horse Close, Peasey Hill
Thurs 15th Dec
Scarborough Rd, Bowling Lane, Arbour Way, Beckside, Maudon Grove
Redrow, Westfield
Fri 16th Dec
Swinton (part), Amotherby (part), Habton, B1257 in Amotherby/Swinton
Sat 17th Dec
Weaverthorpe - Wolds Villages to North Grimston
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