Christmas in Yorkshire means lots of fantastic festive Christmas Markets. So if you are looking for gifts and decorations or just an atmospheric Christmassy day out, the Christmas Markets in Yorkshire have plenty to offer!
As well as Christmas Markets, there are lots of fab Christmas events in Yorkshire.
If you are not from Yorkshire and are looking for somewhere to stay while you are here, have a look at some of the Yorkshire Hotels we have reviewed for a fab festive break!
St Nicholas Fair, York Christmas Market 2024, North Yorkshire
14th November – 22nd December 2024
York Xmas Market – at Christmas in York there is always lots going on (even if there wasn’t, York is so pretty at Christmas it’s always worth a visit!). York Christmas Market 2024 dates – St Nicholas Fair runs from the 14th November – 22nd December 2024, with lots of food, festivities and a lovely Christmassy atmosphere to soak up.
There are always lots of fabulous food and gift stalls in the middle of Parliament Street. York Christmas Market is a fabulous way to start feeling festive! Click here if you are looking specifically for York Christmas Events.
See what’s on at York Christmas Market.
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Malton Christmas Festival – Food and Gift Market, North Yorkshire
Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 December 2024 9am – 3.30pm
The huge 2 day Malton Christmas Festival is the shopping event of the year.
Expect a fabulous weekend of festive fun in and around Malton’s picturesque Market Place, with delicious food and festive gift stalls, street food, live music from local brass bands and choirs and family entertainment.
Malton’s shops will be packed with Christmas gift ideas too – stay a while longer and explore the many charming streets across town on your visit.
Pocklington Christmas Market
14th & 15th December 2024
Pocklington Christmas Market will take place on the 14th & 15th December between the 10am and 6pm. Amongst the twinkling lights and delightful Christmas music will be in the region of 70 stalls, from local craft and food produce traders to totally unique gifts. All of the beautiful stalls will line the streets of the picturesque East Yorkshire market town.
In St Peter’s Square visitors will find an amazing winter wonderland area with a live entertainment stage, giant snow globe, street food traders in Swiss chalets and a stunning Après Ski Bar with stage side seating.
So get into the festive spirit and experience the magic of Christmas in Pocklington with a host of stalls, musicians, festive children’s entertainment, a chance to meet Santa, world renowned street entertainers, comedy acts, dance performances, radio roadshows and much more.
Here at Dowse Events we want to take the amazing Christmas Market experience that you would expect to find in major European Cities and bring it right here to the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Knaresborough Christmas Market
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December 2024 (10am – 5pm)
Knaresborough Christmas Market is a “traditional Christmas market located in Knaresborough’s historic market square, with a wide variety of stalls selling Christmas gifts, decorations, cards, artisan goods and delicious Yorkshire produce. There is live festive entertainment throughout the weekend, a free park and ride and a spectacular firework finale over Knaresborough’s famous viaduct,
This is best viewed from the grounds of the town’s mediaeval castle or anywhere along the waterfront. The weekend also marks the start of Knaresborough’s stunning Christmas Tree Festival at St John’s Parish Church by the railway station, with over 70 decorated trees.”

Yuletide Festival Skipton Christmas Market, North Yorkshire
Skipton Christmas Market 2024 will take place on Sunday the 1st and Sunday the 8th December 2024.
Come to Skipton for Christmas and buy all your gifts from our famous market and range of independent and high street brand shops. The UK’s Best Large Speciality Market Award Winning Christmas Market runs the full length of the High Street alongside many local charity and gift stalls selling everything you could want for your friends and family.
A full range of entertainment ensuring a Christmas atmosphere will take place in the arena on the High Street and at locations around the town, making The Skipton Christmas Market an ideal opportunity to sample a great Christmas atmosphere and to find a Christmas bargain at the same time. At 4pm the day closes with a procession up the High Street to the Holy Trinity Church grounds, where a traditional Christmas carol service takes place to round off a wonderful day.
Christmas Markets in Yorkshire
Harrogate Christmas Market, North Yorkshire
Whitby Christmas Market and Christmas Festival, North Yorkshire
Christmas Market from 15th – 17 November 2024
Whitby is one of my favourite places in the world and I don’t go often enough!
If this year is anything like last year’s Whitby Christmas Festival with a Lantern Parade, Live Music and Fireworks Display in addition to the Christmas Market, it will be marvellous! Great excitement is building around this year’s Whitby Christmas Festival. At the heart of the festival is the wonderful Whitby Christmas Market, with a spectacular range of stalls.
Living North Yorkshire Christmas Fair, North Yorkshire
York Racecourse – 14th – 17th November 2024
All of your Christmas shopping under one roof at Living North Christmas.
Join us for a jam-packed day. Our Yorkshire Christmas Fair will once again return to York Racecourse in 2024.
We’re thrilled to invite you to the biggest and best seasonal shopping event in Yorkshire, with more than 250 carefully-selected stands, from artisan designer-makers, local food producers and fashion retailers to homewares, gifts and accessories, and of course special Christmas decorations.
Christkindelmarkt Leeds Christmas Market. Leeds, West Yorkshire
Dates to be confirmed for 2024
A brilliant Christmas market in Leeds. Christkindelmarkt, Leeds Christmas Market is one of the most established German Christmas Markets in the UK, with traditional wooden stalls, festive greenery,
Christmas carousel ride and twinkling colourful lights all creating a unique continental festive atmosphere in the heart of Leeds city centre. Leeds Christmas markets are a wonderfully festive day out.
We have visited and reviewed Leeds Christmas Market here.
Beverley Festival of Christmas/Beverley Christmas Market, East Yorkshire
8 December 2024, 10am – 4pm
“Visitors to Christmas events in Beverley can take advantage of a free park and ride service.
Families heading for both the market town’s Festival of Christmas and the Made in East Yorkshire Christmas market can hop on the free buses running from Beverley Racecourse, to avoid the headache of trying to find somewhere to park in the town or worrying about how long they spend browsing.”
From the Beverley Festival of Christmas website: ‘The Beverley Festival of Christmas is arguably the most popular Festival of its kind in Yorkshire with over 100 stalls at the Beverley Christmas Market selling a variety of high quality products including specialist festive foods, handmade crafts, local produce and giftware from producers all over the East Riding and Yorkshire.’
So dig out your favourite hat and woolly mittens and come join in with the annual festivities and Christmas cheer!
What better way to kickstart those festival feels than sipping a warming mulled wine, tucking into some comforting street food and waving at Santa and his reindeer as they parade from Wednesday Market to Saturday Market?
Browse the three traditional Victorian street markets for gorgeous artisan gifts and handmade trinkets. With over 120 stalls sprawled across Saturday Market, Wednesday Market and North Bar Within, you’re sure to find unique presents to make everyone’s Christmas morning truly magical.
Victorian fairground rides, Santa’s grotto, pantomime performances and face painting will give the kids a magical day out they’ll never forget, whilst live music, carols and dancing in the historic market town provide a very merry backdrop. Keep your eyes peeled for extra festivities at Flemingate Shopping Centre too!
The best bit? The festival is free entry for all! Come along from 10am – 4pm for the perfect way to get into the spirit along with your favourite family and friends.
Otley Victorian Fayre and Christmas Market, West Yorkshire
Sunday the 1st December 2024
Otley has been running a Victorian Fayre and Christmas Market since 1985. It’s an atmospheric day with all the stallholders dressed in Victorian costume.
Otley Victorian Fayre has been running for 36 years, this is our 37th year. The new committee is formed from members of the previous committee, the fayre traders as well as fresh blood. We also are supported by the old committee, both in preparation and on the day itself. So we are now combining the old and the new, to help carry on the traditions, bring new ideas and attractions to continue the character and charm.
Sheffield Christmas Market, South Yorkshire
No dates as yet but last year opened on the 16th of November.
Sheffield Christmas market ‘has grown from a handful of cabins on the main shopping area of Sheffield to an entire Christmas experience of 50 cabins. Santa’s Grotto is at the heart of the event with the much loved Sleigh Bar and the traditional German Sausage grill.
The Christmas cabins cover Fargate, Town Hall Square and Peace Gardens with fantastic Christmas gifts, and lots of seasonal food and drink.
Santa’s Grotto guarantees a meeting with the big man himself with a photo opportunity and top quality gifts for every child.’ One of the best Christmas markets Yorkshire.
Country Living Fair Christmas Market, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
I can’t find any information for this year – but I won’t remove the listing until I am definite!
Country Living bring a Christmas Fair and Market to Harrogate every year. With wonderful decorations and gifts to buy, as well as a decadent Champagne Bar (It is a shame I am always driving!).
Pick up all the materials you need to knit, stitch, craft and create. And if you’re a crafter, we know you’ll love the Country Living Crafting Workshops.
Stop by to meet the food artisans and farmers in our producer’s village, and of course, sample their delicious offerings before you buy them to take home.
A bit further afield but worth a visit are the Christmas Market in Manchester, Durham or Chester.