Festive season in full swing at Mercia

Published: Thursday, 13 December 2018

THE Festive season in full swing at Mercia, with lots of activities organised.

An illuminated boat parade, a Christmas market and Santa’s Floating Grotto are just some of the festive offerings at Mercia Marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal in December.

Christmas market

Marina staff have been busy decorating the marina ahead of the second Christmas market on December 16th from 10am to 4.30pm. There will be plenty of stalls selling food, clothes, crafts, gifts and stocking fillers and the event is free with parking on site.

Santa’s Floating Grotto is running every weekend in December up until the 23rd. Each child receives a Christmas gift and the cost is £7 for children, £1 for adults who accompany them and the price includes a short trip around the marina.

Festive fun

There is plenty more festive fun for children with the marina’s popular Mug Tug boat open and offering Christmas-themed ceramics to paint and fun activities.

Children, parents and staff from Findern Community Pre-School were recently treated to a trip on Santa’s Floating Grotto after walking to the marina as part of their annual Santa Stroll event.

Carole Gillard, who runs the pre-school, thanked Mercia Marina for making them feel so welcome and making it so magical for the children! Telling they all had a fantastic time.

Illuminated boat parade

An illuminated boat took place this weekend and a Best Decorated Boat and Lodge competition is being held, with the winner being announced on December 16th.

Tony Preston, Sales and Marketing Manager of Mercia Marina, enthused:

“Christmas is always a magical time at the marina with so much going on. We want our Christmas lights display to be big, bright, festive and enjoyed by the local community, to be a reason to visit Mercia day or night to see our displays.

"Our boaters and lodge owners do their very own bit to dazzle Derbyshire with thousands of lights shining in the night across the waters of the marina. There is even a prize for the best decorated boat and lodge and a number of boats participated in an illuminated boat parade. We want the local community and our many visitors to have a fantastic Christmas and enjoy visiting us at the magical time of year.”