Northampton town centre has officially kicked off the festive season with a glittering new Christmas campaign – and shoppers could find themselves unwrapping a £500 surprise.
The Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) has launched its annual Golden Ticket giveaway, urging visitors to ‘Win Your Christmas’ by shopping local and posting an entry ticket into special post boxes dotted around town.
Four lucky winners will each scoop £500 in vouchers to spend in Northampton businesses, with a total prize pot of £2,000 up for grabs. The promotion runs until Sunday, 14 December, with winners drawn on Wednesday, 17 December.
“We’re all looking forward to spreading a bit of festive cheer this Christmas,” said Mark Mullen, BID Operations Manager. “Our Golden Ticket giveaway is the perfect way to put smiles on the faces of four lucky families. The competition is a key component of our Christmas campaign and we can’t wait to see thousands of people enjoying a host of activities in our town centre.”
And festive activities there are aplenty. Santa’s Grotto returns to Grosvenor Shopping Northampton – new, improved and ready for visitors from Saturday, 22 November, and then every weekend in December, plus 22–23 December. Entry costs £2 per family, with proceeds supporting The County Toy Library and Rockin’ Roadrunner.
Lorraine Elks from The County Toy Library said the support means a lot to local families. “If you have any preloved toys that need new homes before Christmas, please drop them in at the Santa’s Grotto. We’ll lend them or sell them to raise funds so we can continue to offer our service to the community.”
Ria Hardy from Rockin’ Roadrunner added, “We’re delighted to be supporting the BID’s grotto once again this year and look forward to welcoming hundreds of local families. The support of the community here in Northampton means the world to us.”
Adding to the festive buzz, NLive Radio will launch a 24-hour Christmas station dedicated to Northampton, playing non-stop festive hits and featuring local businesses in on-air adverts.
Meanwhile, Small Business Saturday on 6 December will see a mischievous ‘Grinch takeover’, highlighting independent retailers and encouraging shoppers to spend locally.
And for those dreaming of an icy adventure, the BID is backing West Northamptonshire Council’s covered open-air ice rink in the revamped Market Square. Measuring 22m x 14m, the rink will be open 4 December – 4 January, offering a magical winter experience in the heart of town.
So, whether you’re hunting for gifts, gliding across the ice, or hoping to be one of the lucky four to ‘Win Your Christmas’, Northampton’s festive season is shaping up to be an absolute cracker.
For grotto bookings and full campaign details, visit www.discovernorthampton.co.uk.
