Festival is sure to be a real cracker

A THREE-DAY celebration is set to lift festive spirits to new heights this week as Durham's Christmas Festival kicks off.

- BARBARA HODGSON

Following the city's Christmas lights switch-on and with the Gala Theatre panto in full swing, the festival offers another seasonal delight.

The annual event, which begins tomorrow, is always a standout moment in the calendar bringing an additional burst of colour after the lights have dimmed from recent spectacular autumn attractions Luxmuralis, inside Durham Cathedral, and the final ever Lumiere which was enjoyed by 120,000 visitors over its three-night run in November.

Now, the stage is set for another three days of action that will once again draw crowds to the city centre.

At the core of the December 5-7 festival are the Christmas markets and Durham proudly hosts not one but three crackers, including an annual popup rated as one of the best festive markets in the UK.

This one is situated inside a massive Craft and Producers' Marquee erected on Palace Green, with the cathedral serving as a breathtaking backdrop.