CAISTOR and Market Rasen are getting into the festive spirit to mark the success of their markets.
Mr Big, the Market Rasen Business Improvements Group, will stage its pre-Christmas market in on market place this Saturday.
The market is one of two huge success stories in the Wolds towns of community groups encouraging the growth of local markets to benefit both stallholders and local tradesmen by bringing people into the town.
Market Rasen won the countryside bidding race for the awarding of Portas cash earlier this year with Mr Big showing considerable enterprise in getting things moving.
The town's market, featuring local stalls with local country produce once a month has been part of their scheme.
Volunteer market director Jackie Smith confirmed there will be more than 70 stalls in the town.
"In addition to the Market Place, we're really putting the 'festive' into Festival Hall, with more handmade, home-made arts and craft stalls than ever before, and more stalls in the car park, too.
"Mr Big's decision to move its market in December from the first Saturday of the month to the second Saturday is to tie in with the Market Rasen Christmas lights switch-on on Friday."
That evening will see a traditional Christmas fair hosted by the town council and the Market Rasen And District Round Table, with school children from three local primary schools singing carols and lots of food and drink on offer in the market place, alongside the Mayor's charity event, which will fill the Festival Hall with stalls supporting local causes.
Up the A46 in Caistor on Saturday, Caistor's monthly farmers' market will reach the end of its first year, with the event being rated a huge success by visitors and residents alike.
There is no doubt both markets can cope with taking place on the same day, such has been their growth of following this year.
The Caistor market was started in April following an initiative led by town clerk Helen Pitman with town councillors doing most of the work in putting up stalls, alongside volunteers from the general public.
Visitors to Caistor will also be able to see the town's giant Christmas tree brought to Caistor by volunteer Michael Gallighan and sponsored by the town's major employer, SeaLord, to the tune of more than £3,000.
