Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre ... 26th 27th & 28th November 2010
Top award for Bury Christmas Fayre
Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre has scooped a top award previously won by national treasures such as Borough Market in London and Bristol Slow Food.
The high profile speciality market section of the Market of the Year awards, run by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), is awarded for best practice and for the difference it makes to the community it serves.
The Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre showcases the ancient town and last year attracted over 70,000 visitors. It runs over three days and although the main site is Angel Hill, a fine Georgian square, it features five individual markets and stalls are spread into the town centre, landmark buildings and the shopping centre, encouraging visitors to explore the whole town.
Graham Wilson, Chief Executive of the NABMA said,
“Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre is an excellent example of a market bringing a community together. It provides opportunities for charities and young enterprise schemes, gives valuable work experience through a partnership with the local college, and makes donations to the many school and community groups that perform on the sound stages. The 200 traders are highly complimentary about the organisation and the warm welcome they receive”.
The award was presented to Cllr Nigel Aitkens, Cabinet member for Economy at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, and Sharon Fairweather, Tourism Officer and fayre organiser, at the awards ceremony in Birmingham on 28 January.
Cllr Aitkens said, “The Fayre is a great asset. It is self financing and we estimate that it gives a £730,000 boost to the local economy. Bury St Edmunds is famous for its street market and specialist markets help promote Bury as a market town destination. Many visitors have said they will be back over the summer.”
The 2009 event was the biggest and busiest yet with over 200 market stalls, three indoor venues and two stages proving three days of excellent entertainment, with over 70,000 people attending over the three day period.
The 2010 event is now in it's planning stages and information will be sent out in early March to interested traders wishing to take part in this year's event. Contact us with your postal address if you are interested.
Coach Bookings
We are still offering free coach parking and special offers to all pre-booked coaches. Improvements for 2010 include improved lighting and toilet facilities. We are using the same drop off point as last year but will need to limit the number of coaches, once this number is reached an additional coach drop off point will be offered but this will not be as close to the event so book early to avoid disappointment.Please contact us on 01284 764667 tic@stedsbc.gov.uk if you require any further information
The Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre welcomes coaches and group organisers. We are pleased to offer free coach
parking, free meet and greet service, free meal voucher and free taxi service for the driver. The Christmas Fayre offers three days of non stop entertainment click here for a copy of the 2009 programme to give you hand idea of what we offer. Please click on the Coach Booking Form logo
Capturing the Magic of the Xmas Fayre