Bury St Edmunds Christmas Market Review

Good Points
Excellent stalls from all over the United Kingdom and Europe. Many people, and ample choices for all ages.

Bad Points
Fairground attractions were in the wrong place splitting up the market. This has been rectified for the 2005 event. There will be new Christmas lights surrounding the market for the 2005 event.

General Comments
For 600 years the Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds was famous for its Michaelmas Fair. From the Middle Ages to the 19th century merchants and members of the gentry flocked to Bury for its renowned Fair. Henry III's tailor was dispatched to Bury Fair to buy his master black and scarlet robes, trimmed with fur. By the 18th century the Fair had the reputation of being a marriage mart for the aristocracy.



In early 2004, St. Edmundsbury Borough Council decided to re-instate the annual Christmas Fayre on the Angel Hill. Bury St. Edmunds Town Council were heavily involved in the organisation of the Fayre, with four members being on the Christmas Fayre Working Group to the Borough Council. As part of its contribution, the Bury St. Edmunds Town Council donated £10,000 to enable the first Fayre to take place. Without this donation, the Fayre very probably would not have taken place at all.



The new Christmas Fayre in 2004 was just as popular as the original and appealed to an even wider audience. Over the three days of December 10,11 & 12 2004, literally thousands of people from all over the country and Europe, descended on Bury St. Edmunds to view and purchase the huge variety of food, drink and goods on offer.



The fayre was so successful that without hesitation it was decided to run the fayre as an annual event with the 2005 event being even bigger than the 2004 event. Be sure not to miss it!