Otley getting ready for Christmas

Otley has long been West Yorkshire’s traditional Christmas town and this year we welcome back two of our long-standing and favourite festivals for the time of year: the Otley Christmas Tree Festival and the Otley Victorian Fayre.

Before those take place though, there are two special events that mark the start of the festive season in Otley. The first is this year’s Visit Otley Christmas Film and Song, Getting Ready For Christmas… We won’t spoil it for you, save to say it’s out on the morning of Monday, November 28 on the Visit Otley social channels.

The same evening will see the big reveal of the town’s Christmas Lights switch-on that will take place in Market Place from 5.45pm on Monday, November 28. The show will include music, fairground rides and conclude with a fireworks display at 7pm.

This year’s Otley Snowman Trail will begin a few days later on December 1and will run until December 18. Once again, families will be invited to follow a trail of frosty friends around the town centre, with all profits going to the Hang On To A Dream charity. See https://www.otleysnowmantrail.co.uk/ for more.

Sunday December 4 will see the return of the Otley Victorian Fayre, now in its 35th year. Held from noon to 6pm, the fayre will include a Santa’s Grotto (in Westgate Arcade), reindeer in Market Place and the usual shops, stalls and entertainment, including performances by children from the town’s primary schools.

The Otley Christmas Tree Festival will be back at the Parish Church after a two-year, covid hiatus from December 7-10. Inside the church, 40 trees with lights will be installed and 40 charities or community groups have been invited to decorate one each.

Each tree will have a collecting bucket and all donations collected will stay with that group for them to use in their good work in our local community. There will be musical performances each day and a cafe throughout. Admission is free, but please be generous. Opening times are noon-6pm on the December 7, then 10am-6pm on the other days.

Otley Courthouse is getting into the festive spirit with four performances of Alan Ayckbourn’s Season’s Greetings by the Otley Players on December 10 and 11 and a fabulous festive gig by the Albion Christmas Band, also on December 11. See https://otleycourthouse.org.uk/ for more.

Elsewhere, Tapas & Tunes co-owner Sam Stevens will be playing Christmas Classics upstairs on the evening of December 23, and on the same evening, the Courthouse will also be playing the ultimate Christmas movie, Die Hard!

All these fabulous events will be taking place against a backdrop of festive cheer in Yorkshire’s Christmas town. Thanks to the work of Otley BID, many of the shops will have Christmas trees displayed and lit up outside their stores, while Otley Chamber of Trade has encouraged shopkeepers to take part in the fiercely contested annual window dressing competition.

While the town’s gig venues and restaurants promise to be packed this year, the Market Place and high street are also expected to do a roaring trade. Look out for all your favourite shops in town and remember to shop local where you can.

A couple of initiatives will also help shoppers a little this year. Throughout December, the there will be free parking at the town’s car parks on Saturdays in December. Free parking will be available at the Beech Hill, Courthouse Street and North Parade car parks on December 3, 10, 17 and 24.

This year also sees the return of the town’s Super Sundays – two extra shopping days to coincide with the Victorian Fayre (Sunday December 4) and the last Farmer’s Market of the year (December 18). On the two Sundays in question, many of the town’s shops will open specially so people can get some extra shopping in. See a full list on the Buy In Otley site here.