During Lincoln Christmas Market visitors to Lincoln Cathedral can:

  • Meet Raymond Briggs’ iconic character, The Snowman™
  • Take part in various arts and crafts activities
  • Listen in on storytelling sessions or play a part in a special drama performance of ‘The Christmas Story’
  • Step inside the ‘snowy Cathedral Playhouse’ and help decorate the inside
  • Show their National Lottery ticket or scratch card to receive a special goody bag (first 100 people)
  • Get an update from the Lincoln Cathedral Connected team on ongoing works funded by the National Lottery

 

Families attending Lincoln Christmas Market this year, taking place 6-9 December, can enjoy a number of activities at Lincoln Cathedral’s Christmas marquee, located inside the South Transept of the Cathedral.

2018 marks 40 years since Raymond Briggs created The Snowman and those that visit the marquee on Thursday, 6 December have the chance to meet his iconic character at intervals between 10:00am and 5:00pm, during his first ever visit to Lincoln Cathedral.

Across all four days of the Market, families can participate in a host of activities at the Cathedral, including jewellery, gift box, and Christmas wreath making, which they can make and take away (£1 recommended donation). Younger visitors will also be able to step inside the ‘snowy Cathedral Playhouse’ and help decorate the inside.

Actors from Lincoln’s Rhubarb Theatre will be guiding storytelling and drama sessions, where people of all ages can play a part in special performances of ‘The Christmas Story’. These sessions will take place every day at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 3.45pm in the marquee.

Winners of ‘The Brightest Star’ art competition will also be announced on 6 December. Anyone still wishing to enter can do so by 3 December by picking up an application from the Cathedral’s welcome desk or downloading via the Lincoln Cathedral website.

Anne Irving, programme manager at Lincoln Cathedral Connected, said: “We’re really looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit with the people of Lincoln and the market’s many visitors once again this year.

“Having The Snowman join us during the 40th anniversary year of the original picture book is really special and I’m sure will be a very popular attraction for people of all ages. The Snowman is a much-loved character and it will be wonderful to see people meeting him in the Cathedral.

“In regards to Connected, we’ve got lots going on and it will be great to update the public on the works we are doing to improve the Cathedral whilst also providing various fun-filled activities for families to get involved in throughout the four days.”

Visitors to the Cathedral’s marquee can also meet the Lincoln Cathedral Connected team to learn more about the project and its exciting plans to radically improve the Cathedral’s setting and visitor experience.

Made possible by £12.4m raised by National Lottery players awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Connected is a multi-million-pound project that will undertake essential restoration works at the Cathedral and create new spaces for all visitors to enjoy.

As part of the #ThanksToYou campaign run by the National Lottery, the first 100 people to show their National Lottery ticket or scratch card from any date to Cathedral staff during the Lincoln Christmas Market will receive a special goody bag to thank them for their support.

Jonathan Platt, head of HLF East Midlands, said: “We are delighted that the community involvement programme associated with the Lincoln Cathedral Connected grant is being used in such imaginative ways. In addition to the physical improvements to the Cathedral, their Christmas Market activities encourage the local community to engage with this unique project this holiday season, all of which is possible, thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players.”