By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 14:03, Thursday, 18 November 2010

Santa is coming to Carlisle next week – and he’s bringing his reindeer.

Father Christmas will officially launch the city’s festive market with all the fun starting in Botchergate at 5pm next Thursday.

The city centre is being transformed into a winter wonderland this year, complete with snowstorms, a Christmas anthem, historical tours, a living nativity and live entertainment.

The centrepiece to the four-day extravaganza will be the log cabin market, with festive gifts and produce all watched over by the angel on the Old Town Hall.

Children’s entertainment, including face painters, Mary the Fairy and clowns, will be in the English Gate Plaza area from 5pm with a jazz band, before Santa and his six live reindeer are led up to the city centre by musical stiltwalkers The Barracudas at 6.30pm.

The top of the road will be closed to cars as Father Christmas leads throngs of children up to the Old Town Hall where the market will be officially opened by a town crier and the city’s mayor Mary Styth.

From 7pm on Thursday, a snowstorm will cover the city centre every hour, on the hour, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the market ends at 4pm.

Marie Whitehead, of Carlisle Tourism Partnership, said the city was a magnet for shoppers and they wanted to attract people from across the county and surrounding areas.

“We want to make the city shine as a Christmas shopping experience in the county,” she said.

“We would like to get people here on breaks or visiting the Lake District, the Borders or Northumberland, so they use our shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes and help support the city centre economy.”

‘Making Carlisle Magical this Christmas’ has been organised by Carlisle Tourism Partnership, The Cumberland News, Carlisle City Council and cnevents. It is sponsored by The Lanes Shopping Centre, Stagecoach, Tullie House and Walby Farm Park.

First published at 11:39, Thursday, 18 November 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk