Traders all set to spread seasonal joy at The BIG Christmas Market
Final preparations are underway for a huge contingent of local traders to descend on Lemon Quay and Boscawen Street for the month-long festive celebration that is The Big Christmas Market, hosted by Truro Farmers Market.
The event kicks off with The Father Christmas Parade and late-night shopping on Wednesday 29th November; organised by Truro BID, the parade will start at 6.30pm from Boscawen St and will feature Father Christmas in his sleigh, elves, local community dance groups, musicians, and circus performers.
On arrival at Lemon Quay, the parade will be greeted by the magical sight of brand-new wooden cabins bedecked in festive style – the cabins have been made locally by Llawnroc Furniture and are appearing for the first time at The BIG Christmas Market.
The sparkling centrepiece of the market will be a 30ft Christmas tree, and visitors are invited to have their photo taken in a giant snow globe as a memento of their magical festive experience.
A street food and bar area is another new addition to the market this year; here, beneath strings of twinkling fairy lights, visitors will find a licensed bar serving festive cocktails and other liquid refreshment, and space to feast on heartwarming dishes and indulgent treats from Cornwall’s finest travelling chefs.
Throughout the event, guests to The BIG Christmas Market will be intermittently serenaded with Christmas carols, warmed with mince pies and roast chestnuts, tempted with mulled wine and spiced cider, and entertained by local musicians and street performers in what is billed to be ‘a real highlight in the season of goodwill.’
Donna Morcom from Sekoya HR, headline sponsors of The BIG Christmas Market, explained why they were keen to support the event this year:
“It’s been yet another tough year for businesses and consumers, and this celebration of all that is local, artisan, and ethical is exactly what this Christmas calls for. With The BIG Christmas Market taking over Lemon Quay for a month we all have ample opportunity to harness our Christmas spending as a force for good – and make magical yuletide memories in the process!”
The market will run every day from Wednesday 29th November until Christmas Eve, and the revolving selection of traders – an eclectic mix of local food, drink, art, and crafts – means it’s well worth visiting more than once.
Plus, every Wednesday and Saturday are bumper market days, with stalls of fresh produce and street food also popping up on Boscawen Street, and Truro’s Late Night Shopping offering seeing extended trading hours across the city until 9pm.
The city’s flagship festive shopping experience is being coordinated with the help of Truro City Council, Visit Truro, and Truro BID.
Market Coordinator, Stewart Girvan, said: “Anticipation is building amongst our traders as they prepare for what will be their key trading time of the whole year. I know they’re all busy planning their displays and industriously building up stock, which might involve anything from tempering chocolate to brewing beer, plucking turkeys to weaving willow!”
He added: “We’ll be giving daily updates on social media about the mix of traders, street food, family entertainment, festive happenings, and general visiting info, so do follow us on Facebook or Instagram to stay in the loop.”