NEWS: CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL SUPPORTS BARNSLEY BUSINESSES AND CREATIVE TALENT (UPDATED)

A group of Barnsley residents have joined forces to organise an event to support local and independent Barnsley. The Arcade Christmas Festival plans to showcase businesses, artisans and musicians from the area with a day of fun and festivities.

The Arcade Christmas Festival organisers, left to right; Steph Cronin, Chris Scarfe, Rebecca Howell and Jason White

Each of the four organisers run their own community arts projects – Rebecca Howell organised last summer’s The Arcade Vintage Festival, Jason White manages Alternative Barnsley, Steph Cronin is the own of Black Bee Creative and also runs Barnsley Craft Biz Networking group; and Chris Scarfe runs the popular One Over the Eight open mic and acoustic nights. Sponsored by Wosskow Brown Solicitors, The Arcade Christmas Festival is a community project with the group working voluntarily to organise the festival with sponsorship from local organisations.

Event organiser Rebecca Howell explained that “with the German market not happening this year, we felt the town needed an event that would bring the community together, as well as helping promote local trade in what is set to be a difficult time.”

Following on from the successful Arcade Vintage Festival that took place in July, the festival will be held on Saturday 6th December between 10am and 5pm in Barnsley town centre’s Victorian shopping precinct, The Arcade. Stalls selling locally produced and handmade products will line The Arcade, accompanied by live music, street performers and pop up shops. Crafty Business, Barnsley’s creative business networking group, will be running festive workshops throughout the day in 2-4 The Arcade, the former Rehab fashion shop. With more activities being added each day and many of the businesses in the area getting involved, the festival is set to be a huge event and a real boost to the area.

Steph Cronin, event organiser and owner of the Barnsley Crafty Biz network commented, “local businesses are the very heartbeat of our town centre, so it’s important to support them. The Arcade Festival is a great opportunity for people to support Barnsley’s business community and buy some locally made gifts. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, compared to large chains, local businesses recycle more money back into the local economy, so it benefits the whole community.”

UPDATED: We can now announce more details about the line-up, including a list of the performing musicians and the Crafty Business pop-up workshops.
Live Music @ Debut Records
10:00 Feral Indie
10:30 Rachael Erwin & Gill Hallam
11:00 April Lodge
11:30 Luarna
12:00 The Stray Targets
12:30 Helena Kate Bland
1:00 Emily Worton
1:30 Shannon McCarthy, Greg Arnold & Adam Cooper
2:00 Scotch & Coke
2:30 Mad Dogs & Englishmen
3:00 Tank & Booth
3:30 Beth Farrell
4:00 Chris McGinn

Crafty Business Pop-Up Shop @ Rehab
10:30 – 11:00 Festive Music with Katie Needham Music Tuition
11:00 – 12:00 Christmas Card Workshop with Julie Pratt Jewellery & Black Bee Creative
12:00 – 12:30 Festive Music with Katie Needham Music Tuition
1:00 – 2:00 Recycled Brooch Workshop with Touchy Feely Textiles
1:00 – 5:00 Festive Photobooth with Amy Law Photography
2:15 – 3:15 Paper Flower Workshop with Blu Moo Creative Creations
3:30 – 4:30 Clay Christmas Decoration Workshop with Tracey Mawson Ceramic Artist

We’ll be announcing more news next week, including which stall will be lining the Arcade, details of fresh food for sale and those stalls on the Civic with specific events.

This creative group who already run a number of events individually in Barnsley, came together through their passion to establish Barnsley as an area of culture and entrepreneurship.

To find out more about the event visit www.facebook.com/arcadevintagefest