A County Durham town is welcoming visitors to a series of festive spectacles across three of its top attractions this winter.
The Auckland Project's Winter Experience will open up Auckland Castle, Auckland Tower and as-yet-unseen Faith Museum in, as you may have guessed, Bishop Auckland. Running from November 18 to December 31 (New Year's Eve), there is an "exquisite" Christmas Garland decorating the Throne Room at Auckland Castle; an 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity scene with 100 Christmas trees in the Faith Museum, which opens in autumn 2023; and a recreation of the Auckland Project's many attractions in gingerbread.
The launch has been timed to coincide with the wider Christmas celebrations in the town, with a Christmas Town taking place in the Market Place from November 18 - 20. Visitors will see a Christmas village with a selection of traders from the North East and live music; along with a range of other festive activities and events including wreath-making workshops.
Read more: County Durham Heritage Railway to operate Christmas services for first time since 2019
Also on offer are ice-skating, visits to Santa, and a pop-up bar named The Elves Arms which serves mulled wine and hot chocolate. And for those who want to share their experience on Instagram, they can take some photos by the giant interactive snow globe.
Jon O'Donoghue, Commercial Director at The Auckland Project, said: " This is the first time The Auckland Project has offered a full Christmas programme of events and experiences and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to enjoy them.
" Christmas is a time when faith, family and fun come together more than ever, and this has been at the centre of our ambitions for the Winter Experience. We want to put The Auckland Project at the heart of Christmas in Bishop Auckland, creating new traditions people will look forward to and enjoy with their loved-ones year on year."
Edward Perry, Chief Executive at The Auckland Project, said: " Events such as Christmas Town have a remarkable ability to bring the community together and it is inspiring to see the positive impact this has on our town and the people who live and work here. W e look forward to welcoming thousands of people to Bishop Auckland this Christmas."
Michael Siddle, Mayor of Bishop Auckland, said: " This event is set to get us all in the Christmas spirit and it is wonderful that we are able to come together in partnership to deliver this activity. Whether it be a wander around the Christmas stalls, whilst listening to the festive music, watching the street entertainment, or attending one of the numerous planned activities from a trip to Santa’s Grotto, having a family dance at the Party Boppers Ball or getting creative at the wreath making workshops’ there really is something for everyone."
For more information on the Auckland Project's Winter Experience and to book tickets, visit the website.
What have you got planned in the run up to Christmas? Let us know!
Read next
- Christmas fairs and markets across the North East in 2022
- 15 photos of the opening night of Winter Wonderland at Newcastle Racecourse
- Salvador Dalí painting makes Durham debut just in time for weekend visitors
- We visit Bamburgh Castle's Christmas Kingdom in Northumberland and here's what we thought
- Big Ben Christmas tree felled in Northumberland's Kielder Forest ahead of 330-mile journey
