SOUTH MOLTON’S BIG CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

Thursday 5th – Monday 9th December 2013 

South Molton’s Tourist Information Centre (TIC) already supports and helps to promote the town’s amazing Big Christmas Festival across the country. The event regularly attracts people from far and wide, who come to experience the magic of a traditional country Christmas in its many glories.  However, this year the TIC has gone one better, by organising some very special Big Christmas Festival accommodation packages.  These range from traditional hostelries such as The George, and boutique hotel Ashley House, to self catering and farm accommodations in the surrounding parishes. 

Some of offers are for the weekend, some for the week and others for the month of December (excluding Christmas week), but all are real, money-saving discounts or extra free luxuries to enhance your stay! 

So why do people come to the Big Christmas Festival?  Because there is so much to see and do crammed into this one weekend in South Molton! Visitors might even find time to explore the wilds of Exmoor, perhaps stroll in the surrounding countryside, eat in a cosy pub and appreciate the stark winter beauty of the landscape. 

On arrival for the weekend, the parish church of St Mary Magdalene, just a short walk from The Square, is a breath taking and ‘must see’ sight when it hosts the Christmas Tree Festival.  As the door opens, the whole building is illuminated by the many Christmas trees exhibited by local organisations and businesses, from Thursday 5 – Monday 9 December.  

The spectacular Winter Wonderland late night shopping event begins on Friday evening with hundreds of local children participating in the Lantern Parade.  Traditional carols are sung on The Square, accompanied by the Town Band, there is Santa’s Grotto to visit, real snow guaranteed, live music, fair ground rides, a special Christmas Pannier Market, craft marquee and a Schools Art Expo (which begins the previous day), in the town’s elegant Assembly Rooms.

Then on Sunday, the country really comes to town as the covered Pannier Market transforms into a traditional Farm Market, complete with animals such as Exmoor ponies, cart horses, sheep, pigs, poultry and alpacas!  TV celebrity Jonny Kingdom will be there, along with food and drink aplenty and demonstrations of traditional crafts.  

Sharon Webber, Manager of South Molton’s Tourist Information Centre says: 

“We are very proud of our town and pleased that we can share the delights of the Big Christmas Festival with the many people who stream into South Molton to join the seasonal fun.  

And for this year, to help budgets stretch a little further, many of our members have been generous in offering Special Christmas Festival rates for holiday accommodation.  The properties include farmhouses, guesthouses, hotels and inns. To find out more, or to book, please contact me via info@visitsouthmolton.co.uk, or ring 01769 574122.”