2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Sam Honey)
has issued an update on Rochester Christmas Market and the Dickensian Christmas Festival after (December 7 and 8). Storm Darragh battered the nation over the weekend, bringing with it across Kent. Ahead of the extreme weather, Medway Council announced on Friday, December 6 that the one-weekend-only Dickensian Festival had been cancelled in the interest of safety.
The castle gardens were closed completely across both days, with the market also halted amid the storm. Rochester Christmas Market began on Friday, November 29 and had been scheduled to run each weekend until Sunday, December 15. With the final weekend of the market approaching, the council has announced that the attraction will see some new additions to make up for the lost weekend.
Though the full festival, with its planned parade and carol service, has not been rescheduled, Dickens characters and Morris dancers will roam cobbled streets on both Saturday and Sunday. Plus, the market hours will also be extended over the weekend, ensuring visitors will have more time to peruse the various stalls which lost out on trade last week. On Friday and Saturday, the market will run in the castle gardens from 10am until 10pm, then between 10am and 6pm on Sunday.
An artisan market will be running in Rochester High Street on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 5pm, as well as in the Kings Head car park from 10am to 8pm on Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Free bus travel around Medway had already been planned for the weekend of Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 but this will now be extended on Arriva and Nu-Venture services to coincide with the later market finishing times. Bus journeys will be free once again on Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 until 8pm each day, with all Medway operators taking part.
During the final weekend of the Rochester Christmas Market, a free park and ride service will be available from the University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime Campus between 9am and 6pm each day. Buses will be picking up and dropping off passengers from the Adult Education bus stop on the A2 Corporation Street in Rochester. A Medway Council spokesperson added: “This weekend you’ll see some of the businesses working outside on the cobbled streets, selling something to quench your thirst.
Do also take a look inside and see what Rochester’s shops, restaurants, bars and pubs have to offer. “Don’t miss out – visit Rochester and have a memorable time with friends and family this weekend.” Find more details on all of the Christmas Markets taking place around Kent this year .
.
