The increasing popularity of a North Yorkshire town’s Christmas festival that showcases local talents and businesses has led organisers to broaden their horizons – and a grant from a housing association is ensuring even more people will be aware of it this year.

This year, as well as occupying its usual spots in Bedale Hall, an outdoor marquee and on North End cobbles, the Bedale Christmas Festival will also see additional stalls open in another nearby venue – Chantry Hall.

Organised by the Bedale and Villages Community Forum the festival has attracted a record 65 stalls this year.

They include arts and crafts, small and independent businesses, a Bedale banquet featuring over 20 local food vendors, live music, and entertainment and, of course, Santas grotto.

“The event proves increasingly popular. This year every slot is taken, and we had stallholders getting in touch as early as January to ask if they could book,” said organiser Sally Williams.

A good crowd is guaranteed thanks to a grant from Broadacres Housing Association, which has provided funding of £200 to help towards the cost of festival brochures being distributed to local shops and houses.

The money came from the Association’s Community Development Fund which supports local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes. All grants are approved by the Association’s own residents via a voting scheme using tokens similar to how Tesco award grants in its stores.

“It’s a lot of work but well worth it because it draws so many people into the town and there’s a really positive community feel,” said Sally. “Everything we make from the festival gets ploughed back into the event so grants like the one from Broadacres make such a difference.”

The event on Saturday 30^th November marks the start of the Christmas season in Bedale with festivities continuing the following day with the main street closed to traffic to allow a Town Council run street market and then light switch on at 4.30pm.

The Broadacres Community Development Fund supports local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes. All grants are approved by the Association’s own residents via a voting scheme using tokens similar to how Tesco award grants in its stores.

To apply to the Fund visit the Community Development Fund grant page.