Is there really a better way to get
yourself in the festive spirit than immersing yourself in a Christmas market?
A couple of weeks
back my mum and I visited Chatsworth House (a gorgeous stately home in
Derbyshire) to soak up the festive atmosphere at their gorgeous annual
Christmas market. It's something I've been longing to go to ever since I moved
up north so it was ever so exciting that this year we got to make the trip.
The market took
place this year between 15th November and 3rd December and it played host to
over 100 stalls selling unique gifts, handcrafted decorations and festive food
galore. Set against the stunning backdrop of the beautiful Chatsworth House,
you wander around a multitude of wooden chalet stalls which are all decorated
with an abundance of pretty lights and trees.
You park a fair way away from the market
itself and then jump on a tractor trailer (which is decked out in it's
Christmas finery of course) and it whisks you off towards the festivities. It
doesn't look like much on the approach but as soon as you stepped through the
entranceway, you were transported to a winter wonderland that was buzzing with
festivity.
Something you
cannot fault is the festive atmosphere. Each of the traders were absolutely
lovely and so keen to have a good chat with you. There was live music from some
very talented people, including an oompah band who managed to drag people away
from their Christmas shopping to watch and join in with their rendition of well
known holiday tunes.
One of my favourite things about Christmas markets is the unique shopping opportunities they provide to support local businesses, both through the gifts you buy and the locally made festive delicacies you enjoy.
I was able to buy a whole sleigh worth of beautiful pieces, from handmade decorations to deck the halls with, to locally made cheeses and brownies. Several items on my present to-buy list were ticked off too, which made it a successful day all round!
Have you been to a Christmas market this year?
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