Traditional Christmas fayre returns to Barnstaple Pannier Market

The traditional Christmas fayre and carol service returns to Barnstaple tomorrow (Thursday).

The fayre in the pannier market will feature some 70 Christmas-themed market stalls offering gifts, arts and crafts, and a specially created dining area providing local and speciality food and drink.

Just three weeks before Christmas day, it’s the perfect place to pick up your last minute gifts and stocking fillers from a wide array of local food and drink and seasonal craft sellers.

Things get going at 6.30pm with a civic procession to open the fayre, accompanied by music from the Barnstaple Concert Band.

A carol service led by local choirs begins at 6.45pm, and councillors will be handing out candy canes to children at 7.10pm.

The fayre winds down at 8.30pm.

Town mayor Cllr Val Elkins said: “The Christmas fayre is a fun and festive event for all the family, whether you want to find great value gifts from local traders, enjoy the carols or just soak up the festive atmosphere. With late night shopping in the town centre all around us it’s a great way to spend an evening.”

Proceeds from the annual event go to the mayor’s chosen charities for 2015/16, which are North and West Devon Motor Neurone Disease Support Group; Families in Grief; Barnstaple Leg Club; and Veterans Peer Support.