Festival Of Angels event wings into city centre

The yearly festival takes place in the area of York known as the Quarter, which incorporates Grape Lane, Swinegate, Back Swinegate and Little Stonegate.

This year, 35 ice sculptures will be on display, while The Quarter will be lined with food and drink stalls and musicians.

Two ice bars will be dispensing drinks in The Quarter and the weekend will culminate on Sunday with the Parade Of Angels, with children from across York invited to attend in angelic costumes.

Organiser Sally Dunn, who owns the Biltmore and Oscar's bars, said she expected it to be a bumper weekend for visitors, and explained the event was paid for by traders in The Quarter.

She said: "It's to give something back to the people who support us throughout the year.

It's a nice, relaxing, family atmosphere and it's a big favourite with al; the staff of the businesses in the area."

The 35 ice sculptures are created by a London company, which also sends two of their sculptors up for the weekend. They continue to create sculptures over the entire two days.

The Parade Of Angels, which starts at Dean's Park, next to the Minster, at 3.30pm on Sunday, will end in The Quarter with a visit from Father Christmas.

Gillian Cruddas, the chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said the weekend was already looking like it was going to be very busy.

Hotels and guest houses registered with the bureau have said they are full up, although Mrs Cruddas said it was likely beds would become available.

She said: "It's a great endorsement for the festival. We've always had really positive feedback from visitors.

"It's a nice atmosphere. It's a small festival and people can get something to eat as they walk around.

"York is going to be extra busy with people coming specifically to look at the ice sculptures."

The Festival of Angels begins at 10am and finishes at 4pm both tomorrow and on Sunday.

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