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Gordon Rigg Christmas Fayre Packs Walsden as Santa’s Grotto Dates Confirmed

Parking marshals and an overflow lot are being used to keep queues moving during a seasonal surge.

Overview

  • The free fayre returns November 22–23 with around 40 craft, gift and food stalls, plus performances by Performance Academy and Pendle Brass Band.
  • Queues formed on Rochdale Road as coach parties and day-trippers arrived, with a spokesperson saying drivers typically waited five to ten minutes to park.
  • The centre says it has hundreds of spaces and deployed overflow parking and marshals to manage peak periods during the festive weekends.
  • Santa’s Grotto runs December 1 to Christmas Eve at £14.99 per child, with a Breakfast with Santa option priced at £23.99.
  • Now in its 80th year, the sprawling site spans 20+ areas with two cafes and farm/mill shops, draws strong Google ratings (~4.5/5 from 1,500+ reviews), and boosts nearby businesses despite some complaints about inconsiderate parking.