A Geordie tradition is going to be a little bit different this year as crowds will not be able to gather to watch Fenwick's unveil its Christmas Window.
Usually, around 2,000 people gather on Northumberland Street, Newcastle to watch the department store reveal its festive display.
But this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the section of Northumberland Street where the window is will be closed to the public when it is first revealed on Sunday, November 8.
Instead, Fenwick will debut the display in a video streamed live over Facebook from 6.45pm on Sunday, November 8.
The window will remain on display until January. With England set to be in lockdown from November 5, Fenwick is now asking people not to come to the store specifically to see the window while the lockdown is in place.
Fenwick will be closed during the lockdown, except for its Food Hall, which will remain open.
Kieran McBride, Fenwick Newcastle store director, said: “This year, it’s more important than ever for us to bring the Fenwick Christmas experience to the people of Newcastle. That’s why we’ve been working closely with the local council to ensure we can reveal our unique Christmas window display in a safe way.
"We will be streaming this year’s entire evening event through Facebook Live with lots of added Fenwick surprises along the way, including the famous curtain drop reveal moment.
"The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority, so we kindly ask you not to travel to Northumberland Street to watch the reveal in person. In line with restrictions from Newcastle Council, a section of Northumberland Street will be closed to the public, so the window and surrounding area will not be viewable.”
When Fenwick's Window 2020 will open and how to watch it
The window will be unveiled on Fenwick's Facebook page in a live video from 6.45pm on Sunday, November 8. Do NOT travel to Northumberland Street on Sunday November 8 to catch a glimpse of it, as the road will be blocked off to ensure safety.
Fenwick's Facebook Page can be found at: www.Facebook.com/fenwicknewcastle
Fenwick is asking people not to come to Northumberland Street specifically to see the window in person in November, while the lockdown is in place. The display will remain there until January. The lockdown is scheduled to lift on December 2, when the Three-Tier system is set to be reintroduced.
How will social distancing work at Fenwick's Window?
While the lockdown is in place, please do not come to Northumberland Street to see the window. But if - as planned - it is lifted in December, Fenwick will have measures in place to help people admire the display safely.
A Fenwick Host will greet visitors at the start of the window display where they will be asked to use hand sanitiser, which Fenwick will provide. Directional signage and a one-way system will be in operation as well as a list of ‘Elf and Safety’ to advise visitors of do’s and don’ts. The window will be cleaned and sanitised each morning and customers will be asked not to touch the window.
What will be the Fenwick's Window 2020 theme?
Fenwick is - as ever - tightlipped about what will be behind this year's window. The scenes have been created in top-secret in the UK and will be transported to Newcastle, where they will be brought to life by a team of animators, technicians, window dressers and carpenters.
Previous displays have been inspired by children's stories and Christmas themes including The Snowman in 2018 and last year's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory display.
All Fenwick says for now is: "The final window installations are the result of a meticulous and highly intricate creative process which turns the sketches from elaborate artist storyboards into awe-inspiring, animated scenes."
Previous Fenwick Newcastle Christmas window themes
- 1971 Camberwick Green – based on a popular children’s TV series
- 1972 Chigley
- 1973 Rupert Meets Santa
- 1974 Sooty’s Circus
- 1975 Aladdin
- 1976 Fairytale Christmas with Cinderella
- 1977 Treasure Island
- 1978 Storybook Christmas
- 1979 Wonderful world of Pantomime
- 1980 A Christmas Carol
- 1981 Alice in Wonderland
- 1982 Arabian Nights
- 1983 Fly to Fenwick’s for Christmas (based on a space theme)
- 1984 Gulliver – featuring a massive Gulliver, whose body filled the whole shop frontage!
- 1985 Fairytale Christmas with Pinocchio
- 1986 Christmas Circus
- 1987 Magical Winter Wonderland (creatures skating and skiing)
- 1988 Purrfect for Christmas (all the figures were cats and dogs)
- 1989 Jungle Fantasy
- 1990 Good Old Santa (Santa and elves preparing for Christmas)
- 1991 It’s A White Christmas (Jack Frost, a Snowman, a talking Tree and Santa)
- 1992 Santa’s Christmas Party (with panto and nursery rhyme characters)
- 1993 Alice in Wonderland
- 1994 Christmas Village
- 1995 Santa’s New Store
- 1996 Fairytale Christmas (with Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty)
- 1997 Santa’s Christmas Pantomime
- 1998 A Christmas Carol
- 1999 Peter Pan
- 2000 Christmas in Poodletown
- 2001 Santa’s Journey (Santa and helper Englebert the Polar Bear)
- 2002 Christmas in Another World
- 2003 Santa’s Workshop
- 2004 The Christmas Story (Nativity)
- 2005 The Snowman (famous Raymond Briggs story)
- 2006 Gulliver (a return journey for Gulliver)
- 2007 Winter Wonderland
- 2008 Oliver Twist (with soundtrack featuring all songs from the musical)
- 2009 The Christmas Story (Nativity)
- 2010 The Night Before Christmas (Toymaker Express!)
- 2011 40 Years Of The Fenwick Christmas Window
- 2012 The Reindeer Express
- 2013 The Fairy Tale Forest
- 2014 Alice in Wonderland
- 2015 Once Upon A Christmas
- 2016 The Magic of Beatrix Potter
- 2017 Love from Paddington
- 2018 We’re Walking in the Air
- 2019 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
