Newark Santa’s Grotto, back for its eighth year, to be held in the Buttermarket raising funds for YMCA Newark and Sherwood

Spreading the festive cheer and raising money for a good cause go hand in hand with Santa’s Grotto.

Back for its eighth year is Newark Santa’s Grotto, which will be held in the Buttermarket and this year is raising funds for YMCA Newark and Sherwood.

The grotto is the brainchild of Emma Holden, who established the grotto in 2016 with Rachel Wilson after finding that families were having to travel out of Newark to see Santa and have the full festive experience.

The grotto was held in Holden’s Furniture Store where more than £12,000 was raised for the Children’s Bereavement Centre and Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and it was run as a virtual experience in 2020.

After Holden’s sadly closed, the grotto was held in the Buttermarket in 2022, where it has been held ever since.

This year the grotto is being run in partnership with Radio Newark and Newark Town Hall Weddings and Events, as well as having nine local businesses on board including Benoy and Newark and Sherwood District Council.

The grotto opens this Saturday (November 30) and will be open every weekend until the week commencing December 16 when it will be open every day until December 23.

Tickets cost £12.50 per child, and every family will get a 10-minute chat with Santa, an age-appropriate gift, a digital photograph with Santa (or a printed copy is £5) and a few extra treats from the Elves.

“We do it for the community and offering this magical experience for the people of Newark,” Emma said, “It’s about bringing people together and making children smile.”

Santa’s Grotto isn’t the only experience being offered for families — a Magical Experience is being held on Sun 1 Dec from 10am to 4.30pm and costs £22.50 per child.

This is a 90 minute experience which includes everything from the grotto experience, plus cookie decorating with Elf YummyTummy, storytime with Elf Chatterbox, crafts with Elf CraftyPants, Elf school with Elf Jingle, letter writing with Mrs Claus, and a Santa visit with Elf BossyBoots.

Then on Saturday December 14 and 21, you can have Breakfast with Santa from 9.30am to 11am, where guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast in Newark Town Hall with the elves.

Each child will have the chance to meet Santa and receive a gift, and this is £17.95 per person. You can book all of these events and experiences by visiting https://www.shopnewark.online/