Ellesmere Winter Festival 2025

Ellesmere’s Signature Winter Festival Returns for 2025! Our dedicated team of festive Elves will welcome visitors to Santa’s Grotto, while the entire town transforms for the evening light switch-on. Shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants will be open late, adding to the magic of our beloved Christmas Market. Join us for a wonderful evening of festive cheer! Local shops will be open for late-night shopping, and the streets will be filled with the sounds and sights of the season. Here’s a glimpse of the evening’s schedule, with more details to come closer to the date. It’s an event for everyone to enjoy! Festival Schedule: 4:00 pm – Christmas Market and Santa’s Grotto kick off the festivities at the Market Hall, Scotland Street. 5:30 pm – Santa leaves to check on his reindeer. 5:45 pm – Roads in the town center close for the evening’s events. 6:00 pm – Caroling begins around the Town Tree, followed by the blessing and lighting of the Tree of Light. 6:30 pm – Santa arrives at The Wharf on a festive narrowboat. 6:45 pm – Santa joins the enchanting Fizzgigs Lantern Parade and Street Band, winding from The Wharf through the town to the Market Hall, where he returns to his Grotto for more holiday cheer with the children. This special Late-Night Shopping event also includes treats from participating shops as a ‘thank you’ to their customers. Lantern Workshops: Fizzgigs will again host LANTERN WORKSHOPS at the Town Hall leading up to the event. Make a lantern and join in the parade!