What is Settlemas?

Anyone who knows the lovely Yorkshire Dales market town of Settle will have heard of its famous summer Flowerpot Festival. It’s a brilliant, quirky event where the whole town gets creative. But it turns out, flowerpots are not just for summer. This year, the town is launching something brand new, a whole seasonal programme of festive events called the Settlemas initiative. Running from 29th November all the way to 5th January, this initiative is set to bring a proper Christmas buzz to Settle. At the centre of the Christmas celebrations is a fantastically festive new trail, 'The 12 Pots of Christmas', proving that these pots are a year-round source of fun.

So what's this Settlemas thing all about?

Basically, Settlemas is a new brand that brings together all the local businesses and organisations in the town. Think of it as a big, festive umbrella for everything happening in Settle this Christmas. The idea is to make the town the number one spot for Christmas shopping and seasonal fun in the area. Local businesses can get involved by uploading their special offers, events, and even Christmas messages to a new Settlemas website. They get posters and logos to show they're part of the initiative, and a bit of free publicity through the VisitSettle social media channels. It’s a proper team effort to make the town's Christmas celebrations extra special.

The whole Settlemas initiative was cooked up to tackle a modern-day problem: the magnetic pull of online shopping. It's so easy to just click and buy from the sofa, but you miss out on the actual magic of Christmas. The festive lights, the buzz of a market, the friendly faces in local shops – you just don't get that from a website. This initiative is all about reminding people of the joy of supporting their local high street. These local events are what make a town special.

Co-founder Richard Handscombe explains just how well the idea has been received by businesses in the town. He says,

“Steve Amphlett and I visited all the businesses in town with the idea and their response was totally positive. It's a first for Settle and presents a cohesive approach to luring people away from internet shopping and back to supporting the local economy while enjoying the seasonal buzz our pretty Dales market town has to offer.”

It sounds like the whole town is on board, ready to make this Christmas a brilliant one for both locals and visitors looking for unique Christmas shopping experiences.

Pots aren't just for summer, you know

If there’s one thing Settle is known for, it’s the amazing Settle Flowerpot Festival. Every summer, the town is filled with imaginative and often hilarious creations made from flowerpots. So, when thinking about a centrepiece for the Settlemas events, what could be better than a winter flowerpot trail? 'The 12 Pots of Christmas' is a seasonal twist on the classic summer festival, bringing that same sense of fun and creativity to the festive period. The organisers have clearly been busy, creating some fantastic festive creations that are sure to make everyone smile.

The displays have brilliantly daft names, like 'Fancy Farmers Fiddling' and 'Curious Curlews Crooning Carols'. You can just imagine the imaginative, potty creations that will pop up around Settle. This isn't just about sticking a Santa hat on a plant pot; these are proper artistic displays with a healthy dose of humour. The winter flowerpot trail promises to be a huge draw, bringing the unique charm of the summer festival into the colder months. It’s a wonderful way to connect the town’s established identity with its new Christmas celebrations.

Steve Amphlett, one of the organisers, said,

“Settle is becoming synonymous with flowerpots now, so introducing this trail to spearhead Settlemas was an obvious choice. We’ve some new, enthusiastic volunteers on board at The Potting Shed this year and everyone has mucked in to produce these festive creations.”

It's clear that a lot of community spirit has gone into making these pots, with volunteers giving their time to create something special for the whole town to enjoy. The Settle Flowerpot Festival has set a high bar, but it looks like these festive pots will be just as good.

How can people join in the festive fun?

Getting involved with 'The Twelve Pots of Settlemas' is easy and a great day out for the family. It's designed as a treasure hunt and quiz, so it’s not just a walk around looking at pots – it’s an interactive adventure! The idea is to explore the town, using clues to find all twelve of the special festive displays. At each one, there will be some quirky questions to answer. It's a fantastic way to see different parts of Settle you might not normally visit while on a shopping trip.

To join the trail, you’ll need a trail sheet. These are available for just £3, and all the money raised goes straight back into the Settle Flowerpot Festival, helping to buy paint and other supplies for the Potting Shed. So, while having fun, you're also supporting the future of this brilliant community initiative. You can pick up your trail sheets from several places in the town:

• The Tourist Information Centre
• Lamberts Newsagents
• The House that Jack Built
• Truly Scrumptious
• Cottontail Crafts

It’s the perfect activity to combine with a bit of Christmas shopping. The kids get some entertainment, and the grown-ups get to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the town. This festive trail is central to the Settlemas experience.

More than just a flowerpot trail

While the flowerpot trail is a brilliant highlight, the Settlemas initiative is about so much more. The entire programme of festive events is designed to fill Settle with Christmas cheer right through December. The whole thing kicks off in Settle on 29th November. The launch day will feature a street market, plenty of entertainment, and the big switching on of the Christmas lights. This is where the seasonal magic really begins, marking the start of the town's official Christmas celebrations.

Throughout the Settlemas period, there will be a whole host of other festive events to enjoy. People visiting the town can expect everything from traditional carol singing to more grown-up fun like wine-tasting evenings. There will be live music, special late-night shopping opportunities for those who need to find the perfect gift, and even films and quizzes. It's a packed calendar of events designed to offer something for everyone. This huge range of entertainment is what makes the Settlemas initiative so special; it transforms the town into a go-to festive destination. All the details for these events, offers from businesses, and any Christmas messages can be found on the new website, settlemas.co.uk.