Ulverston Dickensian Christmas Festival 2013

The world famous Ulverston Dickensian Christmas Festival takes place over the weekend of Saturday 23rd November and Sunday 24th November 2013

The streets of the town will be full of local people dressed in Victorian costume and packed with visitors. Everyone will enjoy the street entertainment and Xmas market.

Procession of Costumes and Characters
A procession of all those in period costume will start from County Square at 3pm. The parade will be led by Ulverston Town Band and Queen Victoria who will be joined by Father Christmas and the Mayor of Ulverston Counciller Judith Pickthall.

Everybody in costume is invited to join the parade which will proceed from County Square along New Market Street, turning right into Market street, then left into Union Street. After another left turn into Fountain Street the parade continues along King Street, passing Market Place, into Queen Street, then turns left into Theatre Street.

The parade finishes at the stage in Theatre Street car park where judging will take place at approx. 3.30pm. The band will then lead the entire procession to Market Place where the Mayor will turn on the Christmas Lights at approx. 4pm

Entertainment on Saturday 23rd November

MARKET PLACE STAGE
10.00am Ulverston’s Town Mayor Councillor Judith Pickthall Opens the Festival
10.00 – 11.00am ULVERSTON TOWN BAND
11.00 – 11.45am Harriet and Joe
11.45 – 12.30pm Blast Furness
12.30 – 1.15pm Uncle Tim’s Flea Circus
1.15 – 2.00pm Curious Cargo – Temperance Society
2.00 – 2.45pm St Plus School Brass Band
2.45 -3.15pm Fiddling Green Jig Machine
3.15 – 4.00pm Grand Theatre of Lemmings
4.00pm Switching on the Christmas Lights followed by th Grand Finale
4.00 – 5.00pm Ulverston Victoria High School Swing Band

Lloyds Tsb Corner Stage
10.00 – 11.00am Friends of Boom Bike
11.00 – 11.45 Inner State Theatre Company
11.45 – 12.30pm Tony’s Ballon Magic
12.30 – 1.15pm Dave Simpson
1.15 – 2.00pm Dan Fox and Boom Bike
2.00 – 2.45pm Curious Cargo
2.45  3.15pm Fiddling Green Jig Machine
3.15 – 3.20pm Costume Parade Passes Through
3.20 – 4.00pm Uncle Tim’s Flea Circus
4.00 – 5.00pm Inner State Theatre Company

THEATRE STREET CAR PARK STAGE
10.00 – 11.00 am Grand Theatre of Lemmings
11.00 – 11.45 am Boom Bike & Friends
11.45 – 12.30pm St Plus School Brass Band
12.30 – 1.15pm Blast Furness
1.15 – 2.00pm Ulverston Town Band
2.00pm – 2.45pm St Andrews Pipe Band
2.45pm – 3.30pm – Gary Gifford’s “Christmas Capers”
3.30 – Costume Parade Arrives Back in Theatre Street.
3.30 – 4.00 pm Gary Gifford will act as Master of Ceromony as Queen Victoria judges the Costume Competition
4.00pm The Town Band will lead the parade to Market Place for the switching on of the Christmas Lights
4.00 – 5.00pm South Lakes Ukelele Band

All entertainment and performances may be subject to change and cancellation at short notice.

What’s On for Saturday 23rd November

09.00am – 4.00 pm DONKEY RIDES FOR CHILDREN in The Gill
09.30 – 12 noon NSPCC COFFEE MORNING at the Coronation Hall
09.30am – 5.00 pm ARTIST’S EXHIBITION at The Coronation Hall
10.00 – 12 noon VICTORIAN COFFEE MORNING at Bethany Church – corner of Victoria Road and Lightburn Road
10.00am – 4.00 pm SANTA’S GROTTO & Childrens activity zone – In the Laurel and Hardy Museum Brogden Street, by kind permission of Mark Greenhow
10.00 – 5.00pm VINTAGE & COLLECTORS FAIR at the Red Rose Club Victoria Road
11.00 – 3.30pm Parish Church open to visitors – Display by Ulverston Photographic Society & Refreshments
11.00am – 12 noon TALES FROM DICKENS Story telling with Martin Gilbert at Sefton House, (the orange house on Queen Street). £2 -children Free
1.00pm – 5.00 pm DICKENSIAN TEA ROOM by the Guides Association in the Coronation Hall
5.30pm – David Copperfield showing at the Roxy Cinema Brogden Street
7.30pm Ulverston Outsiders “Steel Magnolias” Coronation Hall tickets £9 from the Box Office
8.00pm onwards Annual Lancashire Day Celebrations at the Old Friends Soutergate with Live Steam. Real Ale and FREE Taste of Lancashire Hot Pot

Entertainment on Sunday 24th November

MARKET PLACE STAGE
10.30am Ulverston’s Town Crier will Open the Second day of the Festival including the Lancashire Day proclomation
10.30 – 11.15am Gary Gifford’s Christmas Capers
11.15 – 12 noon Ulverston Town Band
12.00 – 12.45pm Furness Morris Dancers
12.45 – 1.15pm Boom Bike and Friends
1.15 – 2.00pm Barrow Junior Shipyard Band
2.00 – 2.45pm Grand Theatre of Lemmings
2.45 -3.30pm South Lakes Ukelele Band
3.35 – 4.00pm Carols at the Cross led by Ulverston Churches Together and Ulverston Town Band
4.00 – 5.00pm Grand Finale – Live Steam

Lloyds Tsb Corner Stage
10.30 – 11.15am Uncle Tim’s Flea Circus
11.15 – 12 noon Terry Crawford Balloon Magic
12.00 – 12.45pm Inner State Theatre Company
12.450 – 1.15pm Harriet & Joe
1.15 – 2.00pm Meet the Cumbria Police Dogs
2.00 – 2.30pm Fiddling Green Jig Machine
2.30  3.15pm Dave Simpson with Punch & Judy
3.15 – 4.00pm Boom Bike & Friends

THEATRE STREET CAR PARK STAGE
10.30 – 11.15 am Boom Bike & Friends
11.15 – 12 noon South Lakes Ukelele Band
12.00 – 12.45pm Grand Theatre of Lemmings
12.45 – 1.15pm Blast Furness
1.15pm – 2.00pm Dalton Town Band
2.00pm – 2.30pm – St Mary’s School Choir
2.30 – 3.30 pm The costume parade arrives back and judging commences – M.C. Gary Gifford followed by Gary Gifford’s Christmas Capers
3.30 – 4.00pm Uncle Tim’s Flea Circus
4.00 – 5.00pm Harriet & Joe

What’s On for Sunday 24th November

09.00am – 4.00 pm DONKEY RIDES FOR CHILDREN in The Gill
10.00am –4.00 pm ARTIST’S EXHIBITION in the Ante Room at The Coronation Hall
10.00am – 4.00 pm SANTA’S GROTTO & Childrens activity zone – In the Laurel and Hardy Museum Brogden Street, by kind permission of Mark Greenhow
10.00am – 5.00pm DICKENSIAN COFFEE ROOM organised by the Dickensian Festival Committee in the Supper Room at the Coronation Hall
10.00am – 5.00pm Antiques Fair at the Coronation Hall
11.00am – 12 noon TALES FROM DICKENS Story telling with Martin Gilbert at Sefton House, (the orange house on Queen Street). £2 -children Free
1.00pm – 3.30pm Parish Church open to visitors – Display by Ulverston Photographic Society & Refreshments

All entertainment and performances may be subject to change and cancellation at short notice 

Road Closures over the weekend:

In order to allow people to enjoy the event safely, police are appealing for motorists to park away from the town centre from 3pm on Friday night. Police will be placing ‘no waiting’ cones in specific areas to facilitate a safe parade and shopping area.

The road closure will be in effect on Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 5.30pm in Market Street, Market place, New Market Street, Union Street, Theatre Street, Upper Brook street, Cross Street and Brogden Street on the town side. The parking restrictions will apply from 3pm on Friday and will be lifted by 5.30 on Sunday.

Ulverston police are asking for residents support to help them clear the town centre of vehicles effectively.

Sergeant Rupert Johnston, of Ulverston police, said: “This is a very popular and well attended event that local people and visitors enjoy year upon year.

“Many thousands of visitors are expected in the town this weekend so, if you are planning on attending, consider transport options due to the road closures and parking restrictions that will be in place for your safety. We are urging people to make use of a park and ride bus running from the Auction Mart on North Lonsdale Road which has been organised by the Festival committee.

“There will be a certain amount of disruption to the town centre but all the local shops and amenities will be open as usual. We hope that we will see the same levels of cooperation from local residents and visitors as we’ve had in previous years to make this a successful event for everyone.”