One of the UK’s favourite Christmas markets is extending from four days to over three weeks for the first time in its 23-year and highly successful history.

This year, shoppers can enjoy St Nicholas Fair for fabulous pre-Christmas shopping for 25 days from Thursday 27 November to Sunday 21 December.

There will be a bigger build-up to Christmas this year with increased marketing and promotion, including a special grand opening weekend which will feature across the city centre. There’ll be lots to celebrate, including a rolling programme of different market stalls throughout the Fair, and themed weeks of speciality stall featuring Food, Sparkles and Toys.

As usual, snug wooden huts and pretty lights will line Parliament Street with a traditional carousel in St Sampson’s Square. Stall holders, dressed in Victorian costume, will be offering a huge array of gifts including jewellery, ceramics, Whitby jet as well as seasonal food and drinks, plus herbs and oils and decorations for Christmas. The main markets will, as usual, be complemented by others taking place across the city including the daily Newgate Market, the Made in Yorkshire art and craft market at the Guildhall, the Medieval Market at Barley Hall and an Arts and Crafts market at St William’s College.

St Nicholas Fair will be open daily from 9am until 6pm daily and will run alongside daily Newgate Market in the city centre. Any additional traders wanting to take part are invited to make expressions of interest by 31 May to City of York Council’s Market Office on 01904 551355 or email york-markets@york.gov.uk .

For information on planning your journey into the city centre visit http://www.itravelyork.info/