IQ hosts Community Christmas Festival at NSC

National Stone Centre at Wirksworth to hold its first-ever Community Christmas Festival

SANTA Claus is coming to the National Stone Centre this December, as the Wirksworth visitor attraction holds its first-ever Community Christmas Festival.

Taking place on Saturday 18 December, the event is free to attend and will feature a variety of festive and geological activities. These include indoor and outdoor Christmas market stalls, Santa’s Grotto and carol singing, as well as a geology trail tour and gem panning. Guests are also invited to attend an open meeting to discuss future plans for the National Stone Centre.

The event has been organized by the Institute of Quarrying (IQ), which announced its new partnership with the National Stone Centre (NSC) earlier this year. The Institute plans to transform the attraction into a world-class visitor experience and an internationally significant centre of excellence for the quarrying and mineral products industry.

IQ chief executive officer James Thorne said: ‘We’re really looking forward to hosting the National Stone Centre’s first-ever Christmas Festival and meeting with the local community. Alongside a variety of festive and geology-related activities, we are inviting guests to our open meeting to discuss our vision for a new, re-energized visitor attraction and welcoming feedback from the public.’

The open meeting will feature an update from the IQ surrounding the latest developments, progress, and future plans for the NSC. A festive-themed menu will be supplied by the on-site Blue Lagoon Coffee House & Cafe.

The Community Christmas Festival takes place at the National Stone Centre, near Wirksworth, in the Derbyshire Dales, on Saturday 18 December from 09.00 to 15.30. Visitors can confirm their attendance in advance, or simply turn up on the day. For information about the National Stone Centre, visit: www.nationalstonecentre.org.uk.