Information on the St. Nicholas Festival.
The 6th St. Nicholas Festival 2004 - 3 & 4th December
Come along to the heart of Whitley Bay and visit the French and Northumbrian Market
with fresh produce straight from the farm including:
HONEY, CHEESE, FOIE GRAS, CAKES, WINE, FRESH BREAD, CREPES, NORTHUMBRIAN BBQ and much, much more!
Enjoy our programme of entertainment from various local groups and fun fair rides for all the family!
Whats thre Festival about?
The Whitley Bay St Nicholas Festival, now in its sixth year, is firmly
established as a welcome start to the Christmas season. It was first
started by the then vicar of St Paul’s, Father Norman Banks, before he left for
Walsingham.
This year it will be held on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th of December, marking
the feast day of St Nicholas. You will find details of the varied events in this
programme, with something for everyone, from live entertainment, including
the 25th anniversary concert of the Tynemouth Priory Singers, and fun fair
rides, to the ever-popular food market, with farmers from France and
Northumbria, which will once gain be undercover.
St Nicholas himself was Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, (now known as
Turkey) who lived in the fourth century. He is regarded as the patron saint of
children, sailors, merchants, bakers, pawnbrokers and prisoners (quite a
workload for one saint!). At the end of the 11th century some Italian
merchants transported the remains from Myra to Bari in Italy, where his tomb
is now a shrine.
The custom of celebrating St Nicholas as the patron saint of children has
survived in many countries of Europe, notably The Netherlands, where
Sinterklaas Day on December 5 is more important than Christmas. Dutch
people took the custom to the United States, where Sinterklaas was
transformed into Santa Claus.
Have a good St Nicholas festival!
For further information, please contact the Whitley Bay Playhouse on
0191 252 6857.
Christmas tree donated by Whitley Bay Rotary Club
Programme
Friday 3 December 2004
4.00pm Switch on Christmas Lights In the grounds of
St Paul’s Church, Park View Mayor Linda Arkley, Alan Campbell MP and Chair Councillor,
Lawrence Goveas will turn on the Whiltey Bay Christmas lights.
4.30pm Schools Lantern Procession. Children from Coquet, Monkseaton and Rockliffe Schools will
weave their way into the grounds of St Paul’s Church then into the town centre via the new shopping
mall with hand made lanterns.
The Fair Ground and French and Northumbrian Market will open where produce including: honey,
foie gras, cheese, meats, jams, cakes, crepes, freshly baked bread and a Northumbrian BBQ will be available.
Local retailers in Whitley Bay will stay open for late night Christmas shopping.
7.15pm The Ormston Singers performing at St Paul’s Church
Performing a wide variety of songs suitable for all tastes with fine
soloists and superb singing. Tickets are £5 and are available
from the Whitley Bay Playhouse on 0191 252 3505, from Ken
Ormston on 0191 252 1926 or on the door. Proceeds to local
hospitals.
Saturday 4 December 2004
10am to 4pm French and Northumbrian Market in Whitley Bay town centre
Traders from France will be selling honey, foie gras, wine, cheese, sausage, cakes, crepes
and freshly baked bread.
Produce from Northumbria will include, cheese, fresh meats, jams and cakes.
10am to 2pm St Nicholas Fair at St Paul’s Church
All the usual stalls including two raffles with a special
Christmas hamper raffle, tombola, bric-a-brac, refreshments,
a cake stall and many other attractions.
10am to 4pm Street entertainment and fairground in Whitley Bay town centre.
7.30 pm The Priory Singers and Orchestra at Christ Church, North Shields.
Their 25th Anniversary Concert where they will be
performing a programme of Handel: Zadok the Priest;
Haydn: ‘Nelson’ Mass; Vaughan Williams: Five Mystical
Songs. Tickets £8 full,
£5 concs including refreshments – available from Whitley Bay
Playhouse
0191 252 3505 or on the door.
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