Aylesbury is offering an alternative Christmas experience this year with people’s well-being and safety at its heart.

‘Aylesbury Small Businesses Count Down to Christmas’ will be at the centre of this year’s Christmas campaign, encouraging people to visit the town, shop and dine locally at any of the great businesses.

The festivities kick off with Small Business Saturday on 5 December. This day will also see the launch of a fun Christmas duck trail around the town, running until 13th December – great for keeping the kids amused while the parents do the all-important shopping.

The ever-popular Christmas Craft & Gift Fair is taking place on Market Square on Sunday 6 December. It will be slightly smaller than on previous occasions with covid safety measures to keep everyone safe but there’ll still be loads of opportunities for people to purchase gifts and trinkets for their nearest and dearest. Social distancing measures and a spacious ‘U’ shape will be in place, plus hand sanitisation at each stall and many more traders taking contactless payments to keep cash handling to a minimum. Stewards will be on hand to see that the day runs smoothly and keep people flowing.

On Saturday 19 December – which is the last Saturday before Christmas Day – an enhanced market with additional stalls located around the town will give people a perfect opportunity to get those last-minute gifts.

Free parking on certain days and times will be available for visitors to the town centre:

  • Thursdays with effect from 3 December up to and including Thursday 24 December from 3.30pm in Buckinghamshire Council-owned Aylesbury town centre car parks (some exclusions apply).
  • Friars Square is offering free parking from 3.30pm on late night trading evenings: Thursdays from 3 December to 17 December, and Mon 21, Tue 22 and Wed 23 December.
  • On Sundays, with effect from Sunday 6 December up to and including Sunday 20 December, free parking in Walton Street Car Park.

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People outside at craft fair looking at jewellry