Welcome to the award winning Ilkley Chat!
Carnival committee members and community police by the Christmas tree that the calendar is helping fund.
Carnival community helps to save Christmas!
It’s not Christmas without a tree and Ilkley Carnival is hoping the community will come together to support Christmas festivities in the town.
After the decision by Bradford Council to stop funding the Christmas trees in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding, Ilkley Town Council have been left to meet the annual expenditure. In 2018 Ilkley Carnival made a contribution toward the cost but this year have come up with an idea to hopefully generate more funds to keep the tradition alive.
An eye-catching calendar has been produced, featuring stunning scenery and wonderful architecture in our area, using photographs supplied by local residents. Twelve local businesses have shown their festive spirit by sponsoring the production of the calendar so that 100% of the money raised from sales will go to the funding of the trees.
Ilkley Carnival Chairman Andrew Stacey said “We have been overwhelmed by the community’s response to get this project off the ground. Residents sent us hundreds of photographs and the 12 local companies that funded the cost have been amazing. These are the same businesses that support the main Carnival May Day event every year and when we asked them to put their hand in their pocket yet again for the good of the town they delivered.
One of the sponsors Pinnacle put the calendar together and did a stunning job of capturing the flavour of the area. Now we just need residents to support us to make this a success and ensure Christmas is saved! We all know what a beautiful place we live in so let’s send our Ilkley Calendar around the world this Christmas and show everyone else.”
The 2020 Ilkley Calendar is available for just £5 cash from the customer services desk at Tesco on Springs Lane, who are again supporting the local community. It will also be on sale at the Christmas lights switch-on in Ilkley on Saturday. There is an option to purchase online at www.ilkleycarnival.org , postage charges will apply.