The idea
Winter In The City will be a month long festive celebration to bring the community together in Lancaster city centre. Starting with a fantastic stage show at the end of November to launch the festive season in style, there will then be FREE family focused fun in the city every Sunday until Christmas.
The stage show will showcase a packed schedule of top local musical acts alongside performances from local dance and performing arts groups featuring local young people. This day will also see the launch of a trail of snowmen decorated by local schools in the windows of businesses throughout the city. The annual Toy Appeal also launches to collect 1000s of gifts for local children who would otherwise miss out.
The following Sunday sees the Cairngorm Reindeer bring the magic of Christmas to Lancaster. The final three weeks of festivities will each see a mobile Santa grotto in the city with different musical and street theatre acts roaming the city centre each week.
What we'll deliver
- Deliver stage show to launch the Winter in the City Festival
- Engage schools to create 12 unique snowmen to form a city centre trail
- Bring the Cairngorm Reindeer to visit Lancaster
- Mobile Santa's Grotto in the city for three Sundays
- Programme of roaming street performers and local musical acts
- Produce a free printed and online What's On guide for festive events in Lancaster city centre
Why it's a great idea
Our Winter in the City festival will bring the local community together to celebrate the festive season with a month long programme of weekly events. The events will be free to attend to ensure they are fully accessible to all.
Local children will get to showcase their artwork through decorating the snowmen to form a trail round the city. The stage show to launch the festival will alsofeature local perfoming arts and dance groups give local children the opportunity to show off their talents.
The Toy Appeal running throughout the festival will attract thousands of donations for local charities to help children and families who could otherwise miss out, ensuring the whole community is made genuinely welcome in the city.
The festival will also bring economic benefits to Lancaster businesses by attracting increased footfall and encouraging visitors to explore and discover new places.
The What's On Guide will showcase festive events to promote Arts and Cultural venues across Lancaster.
Steps to get it done
- Full funding secure by mid October 2024
- All acts booked and event schedule confirmed be end October 2024
- Marketing campaign including printed Festive Brochures - early November 2024
- Christmas Lights Switch On Stage Show - 24th November 2024
- Weekly festive events in city centre from 1st December until Christmas
- Project Evaluation and reporting - by February 2025
With your support, Lancaster BID will ensure that the city centre has one of the best festive seasons ever with a month long celebration showcasing local talent whenever possible.
We will support local performing artists with high profile performance opportunities in the city centre whilst also engaging with the local community through school engagement on the snowman trail and local dance and drama groups performing in the city.
We'll be bringing culture into the city as part of the festive celebrations to bring positivity to the local community and give a boost to local businesses to support everyone through the cost of living crisis.
