Ice rink not returning to town at Christmas
The festival will have Christmas-themed retail huts, entertainment and a fairground, a council says.
**Ice rink will not return to town for Christmas**
West Northamptonshire Council says WinterFest will "celebrate everything that makes Northampton such a great place"
An ice rink will not be coming back to the town as part of its festive programme after appearing there for the first time last winter, the council has said.
West Northamptonshire Council said that, after hearing "feedback", it had chosen a "different approach" away from the attraction in Northampton.
The authority said the ice rink brought in £123,500 from ticket and bar sales and "broke even" on costs last year.
Reform UK councillor Kamala Guliyeva said that, instead of concentrating on "a single attraction", WinterFest would begin on 21 November, at the light switch-on, and run until 3 January.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service found that the ice rink's total cost last year was £335,514.27.
The gap of about £200,000 between its cost and the income it generated was covered by taxpayer money and sponsorship.
As part of the festival, lights will be put up across the town, and those along Wellingborough Road will be improved.
Christmas trees around 40ft (12m) tall will be placed at All Saints' Piazza, Guildhall Square, Market Square, Abington Square and Becket's Park.
The ice rink drew visitors to Market Square from 4 December 2025 to 4 January.
The council said this year's WinterFest will feature Christmas-themed retail huts and a fairground with a 175ft (53m) star ride.
It added that it was inviting schools, students, community groups and charities to perform on its entertainment stage.
New trees will also be placed outside the railway station on St Peter's Way and on Kingsley Front, at St Matthew's Church.
The festival has been arranged by the authority, Northampton Town Council, Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District, the Grosvenor Centre and Delapré Abbey.
Carols on the Square will be held on Northampton Market Square on 12 December.
Guliyeva, the authority's cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure, said: "Having listened to feedback from residents, this year we have taken a different approach to our festive offer and are introducing WinterFest.
"While there will not be an ice rink as part of this year's programme, rather than focusing on a single attraction, WinterFest will provide a wide range of activities, entertainment and community celebrations designed to engage communities and offer something for all ages across the festive season."
She said she hoped the festival would help "drive footfall into the town centre and create memorable experiences".