Calderdale Council’s Christmas markets are back, with festive events taking place at markets across the borough.
The Council owns and operates markets in Brighouse, Elland, Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, with independent traders providing fresh and local food, unique goods, fashion items and much more, all year round.
In addition to the usual markets, special festive events will be taking place as follows:
- Brighouse Open Market – Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December at the new, temporary location of Daisy Street car park.
- Elland Charter Market – Saturday 14 December
- Halifax Borough Market – Saturday 7 December, with additional stalls on Southgate.
- Hebden Bridge Market – Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December.
- Todmorden Markets – Saturday 14 December
People attending any of the events, are encouraged to use sustainable transport methods, with regular public transport options available. A special shuttle bus is also available for the Hebden Bridge events, with a park and ride service available at Mytholmroyd rail station, which will drop people off at Hebden Bridge station, free of charge or for an optional small donation for local charities. For more information about the park and ride and what’s on in Hebden Bridge, visit www.hebdenmakeschristmas.com(external link)
At all the events, alongside the stalls there will be lots more to get people in the festive mood. In Todmorden, visitors can expect festive live music, including bands, choirs, open mic slots, a sing along with Santa, and a DJ spinning festive classics. In Halifax, the Hipperholme Community Choir and Stainland and Ripponden Community Choir will be performing on Saturday 7 December, with Calderdale Music junior wind and string bands in the Albany Arcade on Saturday 14 December.
Halifax Borough Market will also be hosting extra Christmas activities throughout December, with kids’ bauble decorating in Albany Arcade, provided by Calderdale Wood Recycling. There will also be a Christmas scene backdrop to get that perfect festive photo or ‘elfie’. Keep an eye on Calderdale Markets on social media for further details.
Some of the Christmas markets will complement wider festive events taking place in towns across the borough, including additional pop-up stalls and light switch on events. For more information about all the events taking place, visit www.visitcalderdale.com(external link)
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Silvia Dacre, said:
“There’s lots going on in our thriving market towns this Christmas season, with plenty of opportunities to shop locally and support Calderdale’s many independent businesses.
“Our great local markets will be operating as usual and we’re also hosting special Christmas market events at locations across the borough, with entertainment and additional traders making for a fabulously festive day out.
“Our markets offer something for everyone, all year round and we’re also supporting the NABMA campaign to find Britain’s Favourite Market. To show your love for your favourite Calderdale market, you can vote once a day at nabma.com/myfavouritemarket2025(external link).”
NABMA (National Association of British Market Authorities) is asking people across the UK to vote for their market of the year. Time is running out to cast your vote, as polls close on Friday 13 December 2024. Simply go to nabma.com/myfavouritemarket2025/(external link) and type in the name of your favourite market to help Calderdale markets take the prestigious title.
The many advantages of shopping at local markets, is being highlighted in the Council’s ‘Christmas Under One Roof’ campaign – an important part of the Council priority for thriving towns and places across the borough. The festive campaign features local traders from Halifax Borough Market and showcases the wide range of stalls on offer at the market through films on social media, local adverts and on the Calderdale markets web page(external link).