Plans are underway to transform shop windows on the streets of Derby city centre ready for Christmas, creating an outdoor festive trail for visitors to explore while they browse and shop safely.
Window Wonderland is returning to the city centre, with businesses invited to decorate their shop windows to bring some seasonal cheer to Derby and be in with the chance of winning up to £250. Anything goes when it comes to choosing decorations – although this year the display will include a Christmas ‘rainbow’ to thank NHS and key workers during the holiday period.
Derby City Council is working with the two Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) – Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter – to run the competition, which is open to all shops and businesses within the city centre, including those based outside the BIDs.
To enter your business in Window Wonderland and help Derby celebrate Christmas, go to the Vist Derby website before Sunday 1st November.
In a hint at some Christmas mischief which will be announced in full soon, entrants will also be asked whether they would like to join in a city Elf Trail.
Window displays will be in place by Saturday 14th November, ready for judging by a panel of local business representatives. Shoppers will also get the chance to nominate their favourite in a People’s Vote, which will be live on the Visit Derby website from 16 November to 26th November. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 1st December with the winning business receiving £250, another prize of £200 for the winner of the public vote, and a runner-up prize of £100 across both categories.
All entries will be featured on the Visit Derby and the BIDs websites, and their social media platforms, as the judging approaches, giving a boost to business at a crucial trading time of the year. Information about the businesses will also be available, like whether the shops offer other services such as online shopping or home delivery. An online trail will also be created which visitors can follow around the city centre for a full festive shopping experience, including a fun ‘spot the rainbow’ activity for families.
Councillor Robin Wood, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said:
Christmas is coming to Derby, and Window Wonderland will help transform our city centre into a destination that can be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace than perhaps we’ve been used to in previous years. This year the emphasis is on making our city centre welcoming and safe, as well as bringing some much-needed Christmas cheer to our local businesses.
Martin Langsdale, Chair of Cathedral Quarter BID, and Helen Wathall, Chair of St Peter’s Quarter BID, said:
Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BIDs are delighted to be working with Derby City Council to support this competition and we are confident that businesses across Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter will embrace this opportunity. The Christmas period is vitally important to a wide range of businesses across all sectors, all of whom will be keen to provide a fantastic festive welcome for their customers and clients.
Communities outside the city centre are also being invited to take part in Window Wonderland, by creating their own festive window displays. These could be residential communities or district shopping centres, and could include places like churches, libraries and leisure centres.
An online pack will be created for community members to download, to help them run their own local window trails for residents to enjoy from the first weekend in December.
For more information about the city centre competition, and the community trails, contact sally.greatorex@derby.gov.uk.