York’s Christmas Market is set for changes this year to improve crowd management and make it feel more festive, its organiser has said.
Make It York’s plans for the event, also known as St Nicholas Fair, include removing huts and moving food stalls to widen walkways and help pedestrian traffic flow better.
Other changes include relocating the market’s Treehouse from St Sampson’s Square and removing the traditional carousel in King’s Square to minimise crowd build ups and bottlenecks.
A Make It York report to York Council stated the changes aimed to make the event safer and more accessible.
It comes ahead of the start of the yearly market on Thursday, 13 November.
The event, which features chalets selling local craft and artisan products along with food and drink, is set to run until Sunday, 21 December.
Changes made by York’s tourism and events body Make It York follow concerns raised about overcrowding during last year’s event.
Make It York hailed last year’s event a success in January but almost a third of visitors the body surveyed said the market was too crowded.
A fifth called for the market to be spread out, following councillors’ calls to move parts of it to different areas of the city ahead of last year’s event.
The council’s Labour transport spokesperson Cllr Kate Ravilious said she was in favour of exploring the idea but added it would not be straightforward.
In response, seven huts have been removed including three from St Sampson’s Square to create more space for walkways, events dressing and signposting.
The Treehouse is set to move from St Sampson’s Square to Parliament Street to minimise queuing at the Church Street and Davygate junction.
There are also plans to increase pedestrian pathway widths onto St Sampson’s Square from Church Street and Davygate.
Food stalls are set to move from their current location opposite Davygate onto St Sampson’s Square along with a small catering unit which will face The Three Cranes pub.
Room will be made around the Christmas tree and flower stall and food traders are set to be spaced out to try and stop the queuing issues seen last year.
The last block of chalets at the bottom of Parliament Street are set to be moved to increase the walkway width by 9m.
Last year’s trial quiet space is set to return, with the removal of the carousel from King’s Square aiming to stop crowd build ups and create a dedicated busking area.
Make It York’s report stated: “The Christmas Market has been revised this year which will make the event safer and more accessible whilst addressing previous crowd management issues.
“It will have a more festive feel with enhanced dressing in St Sampson’s Square and Parliament Street.”
The report added sites for potential new market events are set to be explored, including themed or niche events, to build on the current offering.
