Whitby's Festive Festival Weekend Underway

Whitby's annual Christmas Festival gets underway this evening.

The weekend long festival and market will be on Marina Front Car Park and opens at 5pm.

The town's Christmas lights will be turned on at 7:45pm.

Deputy Clerk at the Town Council, Anne Cowey, says it's a big event for the town.

Tonight Stakesby School choir and Whitby Community Choir will be performing on the This is the Coast Stage.

Anne Cowey says the town's lights will also be switched on by one of the town's footballers and a local youngster.

The event starts at 5pm tonight with Stakesby School Choir performing on This Is The Coast radio stage.

Later in the evening visitors can enjoy the festive singing of Whitby Community Choir. There will be interviews and chat on stage before Dire Staithes, performing classic rock and blues tunes, lead up to the Christmas Lights switch on with the winner of the Mayoral Christmas Card competition, the Town Mayor, and a local celebrity.

Fun fairground rides are around all weekend for thrill seekers and fun lovers.

Friday 17th of November 2023 (On the This is the Coast Radio Stage)

• 17.00: Market Opened by Town Mayor Cllr Bob Dalrymple and Guests.
• 17.10: Stakesby School Choir
• 18.00: Town Mayor and Guests come on to the stage.
• 18.20: Whitby Community Choir
• 19.00: Dire Staithes
• 19.45: Town Mayor, Celebrity and the winner of the Christmas card competition come onto the stage
• 19.55: Christmas light switch on
• 20.00: We close for the evening.

The This Is The Coast stage will be in place throughout the weekend and Saturday's entertainment includes local singer Charlie Brown, The Esk Valley Concert Band, The Whitby Jazz Collective and a performance of Elf by the Scarborough Theatre Company.

On Saturday afternoon Paddy and Nicky run a Kids Disco from the Radio stage, with lots of games and prizes and later in the evening Falsetto Frank will be entertaining the crowds right up until the count down to the Spectacular firework display at 7.45pm.

Saturday 18th of November (On the This is the Coast Radio Stage)

• 10.00: Market Opens
• 11.00: Charlie Brown
• 13.00: The Esk Valley concert band
• 13.45: The Whitby Jazz Collective
• 15.15: Paddy and Nicky Kids Disco
• 17.15: Elf, by the Scarborough Theatre Company
• 18.00: Falsetto Frank and The Longmen
• 19.45: Spectacular Fireworks Display
• 20.00: We close for the evening

Sunday's stage is packed full of fabulous local bands and choirs.

Sunday 19th of November (On the This is the Coast Radio Stage)

• 10.00: Market Opens
• 10.45: Sweet Harmony
• 11.30: The Windmill Girls
• 12.10: Blue Bridge Band
• 13.00: Whitby Area Concert Band
• 15.00: Middlesbrough College Students
• 16.00: Close

Throughout the weekend Father Christmas and his cheeky helpers are on site, courtesy of Whitby Endeavour Rotary. Visits to Santa are free, but any donations are welcome and will be used to support local good causes.

Festive performers will be in action around the Festival site across the weekend with a larger-than-life Fairy Godmother roaming the site throughout Friday evening, entertaining visitors and offering 'advice'. On Saturday and Sunday, be amazed by Felix Brent, an English Gent, performing tricks on his Victorian Penny Farthing.

The traditional Christmas Market is open from 10am on Saturday and Sunday with great Christmas Shopping opportunities including a wide range of stalls, some old favourites, and some new faces. There will be plenty of tasty treats, including a great selection of foods from around the world.