Christmas is coming to Palmyra Square with an outdoor market (From Warrington Guardian)

Christmas is coming to Palmyra Square in Warrington with an outdoor market

2:30pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News

QUEEN’S Gardens will be turned into a festive market as part of the town’s Christmas celebrations.

Discussions are under way to house a Christmas market in the park at Palmyra Square in November.

Restaurants and businesses from the surrounding ‘Cultural Quarter’ will be able to get involved as the gardens are used as a centrepiece for one night only in the run up to Christmas – similar to Manchester’s hugely successful Christmas markets.

Clr Mike Hannon, deputy leader at Warrington Borough Council , said it will be part of a full programme of events designed to bring shoppers to the town centre for the festive rush.

He added: “When we came up with the idea for the Cultural Quarter all those years ago, this is what we wanted.

“We are going to have a Christmas market in the outdoor setting and it will allow those restaurants in that area to serve food and drink in that setting. We will also have Christmas-themed stalls.

“We will also mix it in with the lantern parade which was so successful last year.”

Details are still being finalised but it is understood food will be sold from stalls in the area and drink from inside the various bars and restaurants.

Clr Hannon said plans were also in place to attract shoppers into the town in December with a variety of entertainment planned to keep the town’s shops and businesses busy.

The lights switch-on is also in the planning stage although it is unlikely that a big name star such as Peter Andre, used last year, will be hired again.

Full details will be confirmed later in the year.