by Rebecca Hannant
Organisers have revealed more details about next month’s Withernsea’s Dickensian Christmas event, which will be the town’s first of its kind.
On Saturday, December 6, the event, organised by deputy mayor Kristina Richardson with the support of the town council, will include a Christmas market, live entertainment, family activities and immersive performances inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It will also feature an appearance from Scrooge, played by Withernsea writer and performer Jim Blake.
Valley Gardens will be transformed into themed zones showcasing community groups, activities and performances.
“Chimbleby Close” in Seaside Road will offer crumble and custard at Ellis’s Cafe, alongside a range of festive cocktails. The cafe’s courtyard becomes Community Corner, hosting crafts, treats and more from 10 community groups and organisations.
Kristina said: “The goal is to bring as many community members and local groups into the project as possible. Withernsea has a strong sense of community, and we want the event to reflect that. Ellis’s have kindly donated the use of their courtyard, which will become Community Corner.”
Groups taking part include Withernsea United Girls, Blue Light Weekend, Seaside Arts, Withstock, VIP Studio Victoriana, the Gazette, the Withernsea Pirates, the South Holderness Explorers, Shores Homecare and others.
At “Cheerhaven”, visitors can enjoy the glow of lights and arcade games lining Memorial Avenue. “Joyfair” in Memorial Avenue will host a pop-up artisan market from Little Hummingbird Events from noon. “Lightmere” invites families to meet emergency services heroes and mascots, followed by posting letters to Santa at Castle Café in Pier Road. “Starhaven” will provide a seating area.
Valley Gardens will be the heart of the festivities. “Tidings Corner” offers library storytime and traditional Christmas crafts with the Friends of St Nicholas Church. “Candlefen” will feature pop-up characters and performers such as Lutrek’s Living Statue and Miss Copper Kettle at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm.
“Merribank” will host the biggest performance roster of the night, including Oliver Twist by Withernsea Primary School, while youth band Elevation will lead a Christmas singalong and snow finale.
A half-hour video will form the centrepiece of the event, telling the story of Scrooge – with a Withernsea twist – through a sequence of animated storybook scenes set to music recorded by a local string quartet. Withernsea Ladies’ Choir will perform live alongside the film, whose narrative and structure were devised by Kristina, with production by Andy Medcalf, while the music was recorded and produced by Gary Richardson.
Kristina said: “Merribank is our main stage. Pupils from Withernsea Primary will perform scenes from Oliver Twist with a small pantomime element. Then we’ll present our version of This Is Your Life, featuring the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, Scrooge and Jacob Marley. The show includes a six-by-four metre screen with animated storybook pages, accompanied by a recorded local string quartet. After each scene, the ladies’ choir dressed in Dickensian costume will perform.
“The story continues through images of Withernsea’s past from the Riff-Raff collection, present and future with artwork created by local primary school children.
“For the finale Youth Elevation will then perform six festive songs, and during the final one the snow machine will come on. After that, Scrooge will draw the raffle.”
Meanwhile, “Humbug Alley” will include walkabout and pop-up entertainment from Earthbound Misfits’ Bah-Humbug Stilt Walkers, the Iota Little Giants Parade, and the Ruby Reds and Friends. “Wickmere” will offer a selection of local stalls, including food and drink as well as glitter and face painting, while “Gleamgate” will feature nostalgic melodies from James Reid’s mechanical organ.
“Glowstead” will showcase work from the Withernsea Riff-Raff project by photographer and historian Darrin Stevens and historian Wendy Graves. The exhibition also includes a photo booth using specially printed scenes.
Kristina added: “One key part I want to highlight is the historic photo booth. It uses one of the double-sided images from the Riff-Raff collection, showing Queen Street on one side and Seaside Road on the other. People will be able to take family photos in front of that backdrop using Victorian-style props.”
Darrin Stevens, chairman of St Nicholas and organiser of the Riff-Raff project, added: “Working with Kristina is a fantastic opportunity for collaboration. The Friends of St Nicholas, with the space we have, play an important role in this.
“We’re ready to go for this, and we’re also excited to support the big Christmas projects throughout the town. For example, we’ve created a photo booth using historic pictures of Queen Street and Seaside Road. Visitors can take photos with their Christmas gear and create their own postcards, blending history with the festive spirit.
“This initiative also encourages community engagement through local businesses and activities. We hope that if this project is successful this year, next year will be even bigger and better.”
Historian Wendy Graves added: “This project is especially important at Christmas time. Hopefully it brings everyone together and highlights how we’re carrying the old traditions into the new.”
Visitors can also enter a raffle to win a £250 Propa Butchers Christmas Meat Hamper, delivered on December 23.
The event is free to attend and runs from 5pm to 7.30pm across Valley Gardens and surrounding areas. Attendees are encouraged to arrive in Victorian-inspired fancy dress.
Kristina says she hopes this new event will spark a legacy of Christmas celebrations in the town. She added: “We’re encouraging as many nearby businesses as possible to open and be part of the night. Game King, one of our major sponsors, will open their whole arcade from 10am. Memorial Avenue will be closed for the artisan makers’ market, run by Little Hummingbird Events from midday.
“We’re also producing a double-sided leaflet with coupons encouraging footfall to local businesses.”
She added: “I’m hopeful that lots of people will come out to support us, though we must be realistic. It’s our first year pulling something together in a short timeframe.
“But the vision is that this becomes something bigger each year: more groups, more businesses, possibly over multiple days.
“I’m really excited. We will also have fantastic support from Withernsea Town Council, Town SMART, Blue Light Weekend, Shores, the Withernsea Mermaids, and many community volunteers. We’ve even had donations of chocolate coins for the children from residents and businesses including Tesco, Game King, Ellis’s, Darren and Marie England of WAFBC and councillors.
“Now it’s about pulling the final details together and encouraging the community to come out and enjoy it.”