Newcastle Christmas Market 2022: key dates announced Christmas and New Year events in Newcastle

It’s beginning to look more like Christmas, as Newcastle City Council announces plans for Christmas and New Year in the city, bringing some festive cheer for everyone. The council will be again working in partnership with NE1, the city’s business improvement district, to offer a whole range of events and activities, providing what should be a much-needed boost and opportunities to spend time with family and friends.

The traditional curtain-raiser to the season – the Christmas lights switch-on, will take place on the evening of Tuesday 15 November, with more details being released shortly. The Grainger Market will play centre stage in the city’s festivities this year, with a festive overhaul, Santa’s grotto and a programme of special events to be announced; and following last year’s success, the Christmas market will have traders hand-picked mainly from the local area.

It will run from Saturday 19 November until Friday 23 December and be extended this year to include not only Grainger Street - with an avenue of stalls leading up to the Grainger Market, and the top of Grey Street, but also Old Eldon Square. Newcastle’s twin city of Bergen will be presenting the city with its traditional gift of a tree, with details of the lighting ceremony announced in the coming weeks.

Speaking about the confirmation of Christmas events this year in Newcastle, Stephen Patterson, Chief Executive of NE1 Ltd said: “Every year, Newcastle’s Christmas offer improves and evolves, and I am delighted that we continue to build on what was achieved last year. It is hugely important that over the festive period, Newcastle looks its best and that we provide a compelling offer that has something for everyone, including free of charge events and activities for the family.

“The festive offer, including the Grainger Market and the extended Christmas outdoor market will be fantastic for the city, businesses, residents, and visitors alike.”

So what can Newcastle families and friends expect from the market in 2022? Newcastleworld is here to provide you with a list of activities that even Ebeneezer Scrooge couldn’t yell “bah, humbug” at.

What will take place during the Newcastle Christmas Market?

Much like previous years, the Newcastle Christmas Market will bring together local vendors and breweries with the Farmer’s market, specialising over the festive season with culinary sundries dedicated to Christmas and New Year.

Around 30 market stalls will once again be set up around Grey’s Monument to create Newcastle’s very own winter wonderland, and curious audiences can take in locally made pottery, jewellery, local ales alongside choir singing and sizzling bratwurst.

Grainger Street will once again be the home of Santa’s Grotto, with families able to walk through Santa’s Newcastle chamber ahead of his whirlwind trip around the world, meet his elves and maybe even get a pre-Christmas gift from jolly old Saint Nick.

When does the Newcastle Christmas Market begin?

Key dates for Christmas and New Year events in Newcastle, per the press release from Newcastle Council, are as follows:

• Christmas lights switch-on – Tuesday 15 November
• Newcastle’s Christmas market – Saturday 19 November until Friday 23 December
• Lighting of the Bergen Tree – details to be announced soon
• Grainger Market special Sunday openings – Sunday 27 November, Sunday 4, 11 and 18 December

Santa’s Grotto will be open from 10am to 4pm from November 15, 2022, with an early closing on December 24 at midday - Santa has to go to work that day after all.

Is the Newcastle Christmas Market free?

The Newcastle Christmas Market is free to attend, though plan ahead before making the journey to Grey’s Monument, Grainger Street, Blackett Street and Northumberland Street as it will get busy during peak hours.

Tickets for Santa’s Grotto are £11.37 (including booking fee) per person, with a maximum for three children per group, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets for Santa’s Grotto are now on sale through the Eventbrite website.