The most wonderful time of the year is here and we visit Birmingham’s wonderful Christmas celebrations. Mayor Andy Street joins us together with visitors to the market.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Five, four, three, two, one.
00:04 Merry Christmas, Birmingham.
00:08 - Well, welcome to the largest authentic
00:12 German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria.
00:17 The event sees thousands of visitors.
00:19 And earlier, I spoke to West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street,
00:22 about the importance of the event to our region.
00:25 I think the best thing about Birmingham at Christmas
00:28 is that people come from so far around.
00:31 And you do really feel it's a sort of melting pot
00:34 where everybody's coming just to have a lovely time.
00:37 And that's very special.
00:38 I know people travel from miles and miles away
00:41 for it's a lovely sense of welcome.
00:44 Well, visitors can expect to see the usual wide range
00:46 of Christmas gifts, festive drinks,
00:49 and not forgetting foods and sweets.
00:51 Let's catch up with some of the visitors
00:53 to see why this event is so special.
00:56 - It's really nice and colorful and lights as well.
00:59 Beautiful.
01:00 - Very welcoming and it's just a happy atmosphere.
01:03 You feel so much love, joy, you know?
01:07 It's very nice.
01:08 - Well, I think it's the atmosphere,
01:10 the run up to Christmas,
01:11 getting together with friends, family,
01:13 enjoying a drink or two,
01:15 the lights and how pretty it looks around the city.
01:18 - How's the whole atmosphere?
01:20 - I think it's just nice when the weather gets a bit,
01:22 a bit, a bit rubbish and it gets a bit darker.
01:25 It's lovely to have the fairy lights
01:26 and to enjoy it for what it is.
01:27 That's how I live.
01:29 - I mean, just coming from chill.
01:31 Plus my friend, he's coming from Austria.
01:34 He just want to come and see the Birmingham market.
01:37 He listen from Birmingham very much.
01:38 It's very good market.
01:40 It's a bull market.
01:41 - And enjoy the market?
01:42 - Yeah, yeah, enjoying it, yeah.
01:44 - It's a tradition every year.
01:46 I love the Christmas so much
01:48 and yeah, I just want to come on open day and then.
01:51 - It's that time of year
01:52 where it's getting a bit dark and miserable.
01:53 Has this lifted your spirits?
01:55 - Yeah, definitely.
01:56 The festivity and the night from like sort of the warmth
01:59 that you get from it, it all works together.
02:02 - Especially that sense of community
02:03 that brings everyone together for Christmas time.
02:06 'Cause there's a cold period,
02:07 but with everyone around and the activity
02:09 and the buzzer really livens them all.
02:11 And finally, is there a particular highlight this year?
02:14 - The bonus pancakes over there.
02:16 I had cinnamon, sugar and butter.
02:18 Absolutely delicious.
02:20 - Yeah.
02:21 - We had churros, it was delicious.
02:23 - I was in my den, I thought every day from up there,
02:26 I want a churro.
02:27 - So now it's because you have churros.
02:28 - She was coming in for it.
02:29 - Yeah, the churros are the best.
02:30 Also all the scenery, all the scenery's really nice.
02:32 - Yeah, we went on the carousel.
02:34 - We went on the whole carousel.
02:35 - The whole tornado.
02:36 - That's what I call it.
02:37 - And what do you think of all the lights, ladies?
02:39 - It's amazing.
02:40 - It's amazing.
02:41 - It's good.
02:41 - It's good.
02:42 - It's good.
02:43 - Great to see people enjoying themselves so much there.
02:46 And if you fancy getting in the Christmas spirit
02:49 and celebrating the most wonderful time of the year,
02:52 the market is here every day until the 24th of December.
02:56 (gentle music)
02:59 (gentle music)
03:01 [Music]