Festive Marketplace 2023
17th NOV - 24th DEC 2023
FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS
We’re delighted to confirm that the Folkestone Festive Marketplace, Folkestone Harbour’s Christmassy Oasis of independent market stalls, festive films, snow blizzards, live music, carol services and delicious food & drink is set to return.
We’re building on the success of the past two years and bringing in much more. More decorations, more free films, more entertainment, longer opening hours and even an opportunity to meet the big man. Plus, with more indoor dining options available than ever before, there really nowhere else you’ll need to go to get that Festive feeling in the build up to the big day.
The Harbour Grotto will be quite unlike any other Grotto in Kent. The bespoke, beautifully designed space will take over The Customs House; a stunning heritage space just next door to our Festive Marketplace.
Dating back to 1859 and once part of a much larger building, Customs House would have acted as a gateway to Britain and a centre of activity in our bustling Harbour. The Harbour Grotto will playfully pay homage to the historical significance of this space, whilst also delighting visitors with a maritime themed, Grotto experience.
DETAILS
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This year, the Festive Market will run every Friday evening and weekend from 17th November - 24th December.
Festive Marketplace will be open 4pm-8pm Friday evenings, and 11am-6pm Saturdays and Sundays.
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We’re glad you asked.
After an incredibly successful pilot in 2021, the Festive Market returned in 2022, with nearly double the amount of Market Huts. Buckle yourself in for 2023.
Folkestone Harbour is a popular tourist attraction on the South East coast. Well known as THE place to be in high summer, our unique offer of quality food, drink, entertainment and experiences is that our visitors trust us to deliver is condensed and refined in the winter months as we open our Festive Marketplace.
Adjoining the Market is The Goods Yard; an 800+ capacity street food venue, anchored by an outdoor cinema screen. During the Festive period this space becomes a hub of activity with live music, large coral performances, and even free-to-enjoy Christmas classics on the big screen. There will be some sort of event, activity or screening on every day of the Festive Market.
The Festive Market itself is comprised of 35 bespoke built huts each measuring 3m x 3m. Their design is a nod to traditional fisherman style huts. The huts come together around a large 10-meter-tall tree.
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Please see the links above to apply to be part of the Festive Marketplace 2023.
To trade in the Market, in your own hut, please complete ‘Market Trader Applications’. If you want to bring a musical act, or other form of entertainment, then its ‘Music and Entertainment Applications’. For food and beverage business owners, please see ‘Food and Beverage Applications’.
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The huts are 3m x 3m in size, extending to 4.2m when the double doors to the front are opened and have the additional roof piece attached forming a large porch area. The pitched roof extends to 3.5m internally and the door width is 1.2m wide.
Each hut has internal lighting with 2 x double plug sockets.