Banbury's Castle Quay unveils Christmas plans

Castle Quay shopping centre has announced a programme of free events for the run-up to Christmas.

The events are designed to help make the lives of shoppers easier and more enjoyable this festive season.

From now until December 19, customers will be able to enjoy a series of fun, free festive craft activities at The Imagination Station, located opposite the Tiger store. The workshops will see them making unique gifts, decorations and finishing touches for their Christmas celebrations.

Workshops include Santa’s welcome basket making for kids on Saturday (November 23), Christmas decoration creation on Sundays November 24 and December 1 and Thursday, December 12 and paper bead jewellery or decoration production on Fridays November 29 and December 13.

Parents, carers and children have a choice of Christmas workshops to take part in

There will also be notebook making on Thursdays December 5 and 19 bookmark and greetings card making on Saturday, December 7, Christmas table arrangement creating on Sunday, December 8 and Christmas wreath arranging on Tuesday and Wednesday December 10 and 11. Customers will also be able to fashion a festive flower arrangement on Sunday, December 15 and create a Christmas bauble on Wednesday, December 18.

The workshops will take place at The Imagination Station located opposite the Tiger store and will be hosted by a variety of local small businesses and crafts people, including Wilderness Flowers, Anne Griffiths, Cosy Creative Crafts, Jemini Crafts, Meadow Dreams Florist and JD Cruz.

In addition, Castle Quay will be welcoming a special guest every Saturday from November 30 until Christmas as Santa will be taking a break from his busy schedule to pop in and put his feet up for a few hours from the comfort of his special throne, on the main mall.

He’ll be more than happy to meet children, listen to their Christmas wishes and give them a little sweet treat. Plus, there will be photo opportunities galore with the big man in red and his helpful elf, all between 11am - 4pm each Saturday, free.

In a bid to help time-stretched shoppers, Castle Quay will be extending their opening hours until 8pm on Thursdays throughout December until Christmas to give customers a extra time to get everything they need.

Customers will be able to take advantage of free parking after 5.30pm on these late night shopping nights. Castle Quay will also be open until 8pm on Friday, December 20 and Monday, December 23 and 6pm on Saturday and Tuesday December 21 and 24. A full list of the centre’s festive opening hours can be found on the Castle Quay website.

Rebecca Deeley, Retail Liaison Manager at Castle Quay Shopping Centre said, “When it came to planning Christmas this year, we wanted to help and entertain our customers. So the mix of hands-on craft workshops, many of which will help customers add their own personal touch to their celebrations, as well as the extension of our opening hours, does just that! The addition of some visits from Santa make for an extra piece of Christmas magic, which we hope everyone will enjoy!”