Santa Claus is coming to town
by Evening Gazette
SANTA Claus is coming to town this weekend ... well, Middlesbrough to be exact.
Father Christmas will be helping usher in the festive spirit when the annual reindeer parade gets under way on Sunday.
Santa and his sleigh will parade around the town centre from 1pm and this year the Cairngorm reindeers will be accompanied by more than 200 children dressed as the Twelve Days Of Christmas.
Also taking centre stage in the celebrations will be eight-year-old Abbie Plunkett from Billingham and Timmy Berry, also eight, from Hartlepool. They won the chance to ride with Santa on his sleigh dressed as elves by winning a colouring competition in Primary Times, a free magazine for primary school children.
The parade has plenty of viewing spots along the route and will travel along Linthorpe Road and through HillStreet before finishing at Centre Square.
The reindeers will be held in a special pen in Captain Cook Square immediately following the parade so people can meet them.
Other events this week include:
Saturday - Designers’ Marketplace, Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt
Starting at 11am, the event will showcase some of the best creative talent in the region, works from both emerging and established artists and designers. Mini-boutique stalls will feature work by regional artists and designers. On sale will be a diverse collection of items from fashion and photography to jewellery and interior products. Details at www.designersmarketplace.org.uk
From Wednesday - Elgar Exhibition, Green Dragon Studios in Stockton
Elgar was a frequent visitor to the North-east and in 1903 conducted one of the early performances of Gerontius in Middlesbrough Town Hall. This featured a semi-chorus trained by ironmaster Nicholas Kilburn, Elgar’s good friend from Bishop Auckland. Elgar’s name is recorded, together with those of other famous visiting artists, in a stained glass window in Middlesbrough Town Hall.
Running until November 28, the exhibition, which features family and music memorabilia, is open 10am-6pm on weekdays and 10am-2pm on weekend. Entry is free. This is one of a trio of events organised by Cleveland Philharmonic Choir during November.
Tenor Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts will give vocal masterclasses for postgraduate students at the Chapel of Sir William Turner’s Almshouses, Kirkleatham, on Friday, November 28, starting at 2.15pm. The choir will then perform Dream Of Gerontius at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday, November 29, at 7.30pm.
Thursday - Fred The Christmas Tree, 5-8pm
The 8ft fir will be chatting with spectators and playing Christmas carols as Middlesbrough’s Thursday nights of entertainment continue.
You can also meet Man In A Christmas Present and hear music from Steelworks, which was formed in Acklam in 2002 and has 40 members.
Friday - Darlington Farmers’ Market
Buy great local produce in West Row from 10am-4pm ranging from meats, cheeses, home-baked goods to gifts and candles.
