THOUSANDS of people are expected to flood into Skipton for the next two weekends for the town's Christmas Market and Yuletide Festival.

The event, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, will take place this Sunday and next Sunday, December 14, and will include fun and entertainment for all the family.

The High Street Market will be in full flow, together with additional craft, community and food stalls – and live entertainment will feature across the whole of the town centre.

It will run from 10am to 4pm on both Sundays – and will round off with a torchlight procession along the High Street to Holy Trinity Church for a traditional carol service in the church grounds.

The range of entertainment has been expanded for the 20th anniversary and includes a host of "walkabout" acts including Olaf and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen, seven-foot tall penguins, joy-riding reindeer, the amazing New York Brass Band and popular favourite Granny Turismo!

There will also be traditional entertainment from the Skipton Camerata Choral Society, Skipton and Barnoldswick Brass Bands and the Accrington Pipe Band. Santa and his real reindeer will be in town – and the centrepiece will be a giant 16ft "snow globe" where visitors can pose inside and take away a free souvenir photo.

“We wanted to add to the entertainment for our 20th anniversary and there really will be something for everybody from the traditional to the somewhat quirky," said town centre manager Brett Butler.

“The event attracts visitors from all over the north of the country – and there are dozens of coaches already booked in on both days. Once again we have been listed well inside the Top Ten Christmas Markets in the UK and we’re very proud of that." He added: "As well as the market, it’s a perfect opportunity for businesses across the town to showcase what they have to offer and take advantage of pre-Christmas rush.”

The Christmas market is organised by Skipton Town Council and is supported with funding from both the council and the Skipton Town Partnership.

The High Street will be closed to traffic to allow the event to take place and diversions will be put in place for drivers. Jerry Croft is scheduled to reopen in time for the first Sunday to allow access to the main Town Hall Car Park.

Dave Parker, chief officer of Skipton Town Council, said: “The High Street road closure will be implemented from around 5am on each of the two Sundays and we expect the road to open again from around 7pm.

"To allow us to make sure we can set up the event in the early hours of Sunday, no parking will be allowed on the High Street Setts overnight on Saturday. We would ask all drivers to find alternative parking on Saturday evening.”