UK’s oldest Christmas market has been scrapped permanently and replaced by an ‘ice adventure’ – with free trail & shows
DESPITE fierce backlash from locals, Lincoln Christmas Market has been permanently scrapped and replaced with a string of smaller events.
Lincoln Christmas Market first opened in 1982, claiming to be the oldest Christmas market in the UK.
It was introduced because of the city’s ties to the German town of Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.
While the 1980s Christmas market only opened with 11 stalls, it proved popular and returned year after year until it was axed in 2023 due to concerns about overcrowding.
This was after more than 300,000 people visited the four-day Christmas market in 2022.
Both locals and councillors in Lincoln called for the market to be reinstated on the festive calendar.
One local told Lincolnshire Live: “Bring it back but it needs to be a week long maybe longer.
“Give people more chance to visit without everyone crammed into one weekend. Four days is too short.”
Another added: “Bring it back, reduce the amount of repeated stalls and consider moving the fairground rides to a bigger space such as the showground, incorporating the park and ride scheme”.
Despite the push from locals plans to bring back Lincoln Christmas Market were rejected earlier this year.
The Christmas Market will instead be replaced by a string of other festive events, including Lincoln Ice Adventure.
Running for two days in December, the Lincoln Ice Adventure will feature Lincoln-themed ice sculptures.
On December 7 and December 8, visitors to Lincoln can follow a trail of 16 ice sculptures, with live ice-carving demonstrations also taking place throughout the weekend.
Other festive activities will also take place as part of Lincoln Ice Adventure, including a carousel, Lincoln Markers Market and a mulled wine stall.
These festivities will be in Castle Square and Castle Square Car Park in the East Midlands city.
Live performances from The Rock Choir, The Lincoln Ukulele Band, The City of Lincoln Band, the Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue Band, OutLOUD, Vital Voices and Annie Griffith’s Community Choirs will also take place in the square.
The city’s Christmas Lights are being turned on on Thursday, November 28, with live music and performances also taking place.
The lights will run from Newport Arch to St Marks Street, with a huge fairy-light display and a 16m illuminated comet set to make a return.
Twinkling lights will also decorate Lincoln Castle as its illuminated experience returns for another year.
The city will also host a Christmas-themed circus, the Christmas spectacular will run from December 15 until January 5.
Lincoln is a 70-minute drive from Sheffield, and it’s a two-hour drive from Birmingham.
Here's where you can find the ice sculptures in Lincoln
HERE are all the places where visitors to Lincoln will find ice sculptures as part of the Lincoln Ice Adventure.
- Lincoln Transport Hub
- Lower High Street
- Cornhill Square
- Sincil Street
- City Square
- High Bridge
- Lincoln Guildhall
- Top of the High Street/The Strait and Narrow
- Top of Steep Hill
- Bailgate (outside the White Hart Hotel)
- Castle Square (outside the Visitor Information Centre)
- Lincoln Castle
- St Paul in the Bail
- Bailgate
- Newport Arch (outside Duke William)
- Lincoln Cathedral Dean’s Green
We’ve rounded up some other Christmas markets you can visit this year.
Or here are the best family day trips across England to enjoy at Christmas.