There’s not a lot that will inspire a festive feeling more than a fabulous Christmas Market, and there are dozens taking place up and down the Welsh coast this December.

Christmas Markets are a real celebration of all things festive, where you’ll find stalls packed with unique gifts, tempting local produce, quirky winter clothing and plenty of delicious food and drink to ward off the winter chills. Christmas markets are usually open air markets that take place along main streets or town squares, and are becoming increasingly popular in Britain as shoppers look for alternatives to big high street shopping for their Christmas gifts and food.

These lively street celebrations originated in medieval Germany; the Christmas market in Dresden was first held in 1434 and the Bautzen market is even older – it was first recorded in 1384. In many towns across Austria and Germany, the beginning of the advent period is celebrated with the opening of the local Christmas Market that then stays in town until Christmas. And while the enormous Christmas markets of Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Erfurt and Stuttgart are truly a festive spectacle, you don’t have to travel that far to take part in the festive cheer, because the Welsh coast is home to some of the finest Christmas markets in the country.

Here’s our pick of the finest North Wales Christmas Markets 2019

• 29/30th November – Abersoch Christmas Festival Weekend
• 30th November – Christmas Lights Switch On, Ruthin, Clwyd
• 1st December – Winter Fair, National Slate Museum, Llanberis, Gwynedd
• 5th December – Wrexham Victorian Christmas Market
• 6/7/8th December – Portmeirion Christmas Food and Craft Fair, Gwynedd
• 7th December – Magical Christmas Parade, Llandudno, Conwy
• 7th December – Christmas at Prince’s Pier, Menai Bridge
• 7th/8th December – Christmas Market at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, Conwy
• 14th Dec – Conwy Medieval Christmas
• 14th – 22nd December – Christmas Special at Gypsy Wood Park, Bontnewydd, Caernarfon

Bryn Jones www.freeimages.com