Christmas. It’s never the same once you’ve grown up is it.
I want a Christmas scene like the one they had on the old Quality Street tins. Rosy faced carol singers gathered on the street, lanterns in hand, a light snow fall visible in their glow, someone dragging a Christmas tree on a sledge You get the idea?
Reality though is different. You can’t recapture those scenes from the Christmas films we know and love. The ‘magical’ Christmas eve normally turns out to be me sat in front of the telly watching Carols from Kings, with a luke warm Baileys wondering where it all went wrong.
One way of trying to get into the Christmas spirit is a good old-fashioned Christmas market. So here’s a few nearby to get you in the Christmas mood (and a couple slightly further afield for when your Pumpkin turns into a stage-coach)
Now until 4th January – Nottingham Winter Wonderland. One of my favourites. The old England themed market is perfect daytime or evening. Wrap up warm an enjoy mulled wine or a hot chocolate served from the bar within the Helter skelter. There are favourites both traditional and new including roast chestnuts, donuts, sausages, snow cakes, fudge, cheese, pancakes and hog roast alongside a bandstand, a stunning ice rink around the Christmas tree, rides, timber decked walkways, nativity scene, 100’s of real Christmas trees, snow dressing and much more.
10am – 6pm/8pm late night shopping
Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th November – Kelham Hall Traditional Christmas Market. Free hot chocolate for visitors, along with reindeer crèche, visit from Santa, carols, stalls and Christmas punch. £5 entry for adults, £3 50 for children, under 3’s, free.
Saturday 29th November – Farndon Boathouse’s Christmas market. Food stalls, boutiques and music.
Saturday 29 November – Sunday 30 November Christmas Art and Food Market, Welbeck.
A wide range of unusual and hand-made gifts, each market stall selected by experts from The Harley Gallery and Welbeck Farm Shop with 70 artists and designers plus a fantastic food market presented by the Welbeck Farm Food Shop. Focussing on local products including beer, cheese, bread and chocolates made on the Welbeck Estate
Friday 5th – Sun 8th December – Matlock Victorian Christmas. Set in the heart of Matlock, Derbyshire, the free event has a host of shopping ideas, food and entertainment.
6th December – Tom Browns Christmas market, Gunthorpe. Gifts, decorations, food stalls, mulled wine, coffee and cake.
Saturday December 7th – Belper Christmas Food & Real Ale Festival. Free to enter. Sample and buy your Christmas food from local produces.
There you go. If that little lot doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit nothing will. (Except maybe Brandy – Brandy might)
By Tanya Raybould
