by Rebecca Hannant
Withernsea stepped back in time on Saturday, December 6, as the town successfully hosted its first-ever Dickensian Christmas which transformed Valley Gardens and surrounding streets into a festive wonderland.
The event, inspired by Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, was organised by Withernsea’s deputy mayor Kristina Richardson, with support from members of Withernsea Town Council and the Withernsea Blue Light Weekend team, who spent months planning an afternoon and early evening full of themed activities.
On Saturday the event saw Valley Gardens and surrounding areas split up into themed areas offering an array of entertainment from the likes of Chimbleby Close in Seaside Road which saw Ellis’s courtyard transform into Community Corner for stalls such as Shores, Seaside Arts, the Withernsea Pirates and more.
Meanwhile, Glowstead showcased the work of the Withernsea Riff-Raff project led by photographer Darrin Stevens and historian Wendy Graves. A Victorian-style photobooth was also set up along with an exhibition of old photographs inside the Blue Door pop-in.
The biggest draw of crowds was to Merribank, which took place at the Valley Gardens stage and featured an evening of performances from the community, with key local leaders treading the boards in amateur dramatics.
Performances opened with an introduction by local poet Richard Harries, before children from Withernsea Primary School performed scenes from Oliver Twist with a panto twist.
Next was This is Your Life! with Ebenezer Scrooge played by Withernsea’s Jim Blake and town councillor Kelvin Smith as Jacob Marley while previous mayor Ian Blackburn played the Ghost of Christmas Past, current mayor Alex Camplin played the Ghost of Christmas Present, and deputy mayor Kristina was the Ghost of Christmas Future.
Then came a performance by Withernsea Ladies’ Choir, taking to the stage beside the large screen that formed the centrepiece of the scene. The dramatic film about Scrooge and his life had been created by Andy Medcalf, who spent many hours crafting the visuals and shaping the story, with a soundtrack provided by a local string quartet.
Andy said: “I really enjoyed being part of Withernsea’s Dickensian Christmas this year. It was a great project to work on and it was fantastic to see everyone come together to make it happen.
“I was backstage throughout the evening and had spent a fair bit of time putting the video together in recent weeks, so it was lovely to see it all come to life on the night. I’m already looking forward to being involved again next year and helping make this event even bigger and better.”
Between events, the screen showcased a range of photos taken at Withernsea’s many events throughout the year such as Blue Light Weekend, Withernsea Carnival, Withernsea Pirate Festival and more. The photos also showcased the achievements of individuals and community groups who have organised events throughout the year.
Other entertainment was provided by the Ruby Reds, One Voice and Friends, and youth band Elevation. Also on hand to provide additional performances were James Reid’s mechanical organ, Earthbound Misfits’ Bah-Humbug Stilt Walkers, Lutrek’s Living Statue and Miss Copper Kettle.
Meanwhile, a raffle for a £250 meat hamper was drawn by Santa at 7.30pm – with Carol Banks named the lucky winner.
One of the biggest draws to the event was the market brought by Little Hummingbird Events, which saw stalls from near and far sell a range of items from the likes of chocolate and sweets, handmade gifts, portraits and more.
Lynn Massey-Davis, owner of Patrington Glass Fusion, had a stall at the event. She said: “It was great fun – I met lots of people who were having a whale of a time. I loved pretending to be a tradeswoman from 1890, selling her wares and talking to children about how lucky they were to be able to go to school!”
Cllr Ian Blackburn said: “It was an event that created something very different from just switching on some lights. The Valley Gardens were seen as they were meant to be, holding events. Around the gardens were stalls. Local groups entertained, Ladies Choir, school children and many there dressed in Victorian clothing.
“It made the switching-on of lights something more. The people there enjoyed it, those performing enjoyed it and as a first-time event, one that will grow to be the best Christmas switch-on in the region. Fantastic thanks to all who took part, organised and attended despite the weather. Withernsea people always have a go at something to make our town better. This was one such example.”
Withernsea Ladies’ Choir member Sue Norman said: “I have nothing but praise for the amount of work that had obviously been put into the event. Special mention must go to Kristina Richardson who worked tirelessly to motivate a more than willing team to bring her vision to fruition. The weather could have been kinder but did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the organisers, the performers or the audience. It was a pleasure to be asked as a choir to be part of what was hopefully the first of many Christmas events here in Withernsea.”
South East Holderness ward councillor Jon Dimberline added: “I think it is the beginning of something fresh, new and vibrant. Kristina Richardson put an incredible amount of time into it. People dived in and supported which was amazing. I think there were glitches, but there were lessons learned, and they will be taken away. I spoke to several stallholders who all said that they had done reasonably well and were glad to be there. Some came from places such as Cottingham and Sheffield, and there were also a few local ones.
“I believe deputy mayor Kristina Richardson has created something truly positive for our town. It was a shame about the weather, but that’s just a British winter. Even so, the crowd was entertained, and the event was a real boost for the town and the community. I encourage every resident to support events like this as much as they can, put good comments about it and support all the businesses in the town to bring them a boost.”
South East Holderness ward councillor Sean McMaster said: “It was great to see so many people turn out for the Dickensian Christmas event in Withernsea. A huge well done to all the organisers and volunteers that made the night a huge success.”
Reflecting on the event, Kristina said: “Withernsea’s first Dickensian Christmas faced its fair share of challenges from last-minute cancellations, sound and lighting to the great British weather but I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved together.
“The event was built on many hours of passion and preparation, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supported it: from my family and friends to local organisations, traders, performers, volunteers, sponsors, community groups and emergency services.
“Your hard work, kindness and willingness to embrace something new truly transformed the evening. While there are lessons to learn, the spirit of our community shone brightly, and I’m excited to keep building on the event for 2026, and further positive opportunities for Withernsea in the future.”
Preparations for next year’s event will begin next year, but Kristina is looking for comments on how to make the event better and has already come up with some early ideas such as growing the Christmas market and a Christmas movie screening.
Kristina added: “I would also welcome the community to submit comments on the event, as they have been very supportive on social media. I will also look at capturing feedback and ideas from the community that can help shape 2026’s event ready to start planning in January, which will give me much longer to pull everything together.”