'Once Upon A Christmas': Fenwick Newcastle's Famous Animated Windows Are Unveiled For 2015

Fenwick Newcastle, the flagship store in the Fenwick group, unveiled its popular Christmas windows on Friday 6 November, watched by a crowd of thousands. Santa and his reindeer paraded down Northumberland Street to orchestrate the countdown and, as snow fell, the window theme was revealed as ‘Once upon a Christmas.' This year’s animated windows, viewed as if from a bedroom window, relate the story of one snowy Christmas Eve when Santa’s sleigh crash-lands on the roof of Fenwick! Santa is stuck upside down in a chimney but luckily is rescued by his elves and Christmas is saved. The action takes place high over the rooftops and many iconic landmarks of Newcastle and Gateshead can be spotted in the background of the windows. The animated 3D characters and hand drawn backdrops are complemented by a magical soundtrack, especially composed for this year’s windows. Chairman, Mark Fenwick said: “I hope you like our Christmas windows as much as we enjoyed creating them for you. We all wish you a very happy Christmas.” ‘Once upon a Christmas’ is the latest spectacular addition to a tradition of Fenwick Newcastle animated windows that stretches back over 40 years. The displays are one of the largest Christmas showcases in Europe and are firmly established as an integral part of the North East’s festive season. Visitors who came to see the windows 30 or 40 years ago have since brought their children and grandchildren to see the displays, often travelling miles to view its festive themes.