Why Hire Marshals and Stewards for December and New Year’s Festive Events

December is packed with public celebrations, community gatherings, and large-scale seasonal events. From Christmas markets and light trails to New Year’s Eve fireworks and street parties, this time of year brings huge crowds to towns and cities across the UK.

While these events bring joy and connection, they also require careful planning, crowd management, and safety coordination. Hiring professional marshals and stewards is one of the most effective ways to ensure that your festive event runs smoothly, safely, and successfully.

In this article, we explore the benefits of hiring experienced marshals and stewards for the remainder of December and into the New Year celebrations – and why it’s a smart move for any event organiser.

Festive Events That Require Marshals and Stewards

The winter season is a busy one. If you’re organising any of the following events, professional support is not just helpful – it’s essential.

Christmas Markets and Light Trails

With high footfall, family visitors, and outdoor environments, these attractions need regular crowd monitoring, queue management, and safety staff in place.

Santa Grottos and Festive Attractions

These events are especially popular with young families. Stewards help with queue control, public information, and creating a safe, friendly atmosphere.

Outdoor Ice Rinks and Pop-Up Winter Fairs

Increased risk of slips, cold-weather incidents, and crowd congestion make stewards vital for public reassurance and first response readiness.

New Year’s Eve Celebrations and Firework Displays

Large crowds, alcohol consumption, road closures, and midnight surges make this one of the highest-risk nights of the year for public safety.

Having trained marshals in place allows you to focus on delivering the event, knowing your crowd is being managed with care and experience.

The Key Benefits of Hiring Professional Marshals and Stewards

Investing in a professional team offers more than just high-vis jackets. It brings structure, reassurance, and preparedness to your event.

Crowd Control and Flow Management

With large gatherings, movement is everything. Marshals are trained to monitor crowd density, manage foot traffic, and respond quickly to pinch points. They help prevent bottlenecks, reduce the risk of pushing or panic, and direct visitors safely around the site.

This is particularly important at:

Market entrances and exits

Popular photo spots or attractions

Toilets and food stall queues

Emergency access points

Queue Management

Long queues are part of any festive event – whether it’s for Santa, a skating session, or a mulled wine stand. Marshals and stewards ensure:

Queues stay orderly and don’t block paths or exits

Visitors understand where to go and how long the wait is

Tensions are de-escalated calmly and professionally

This improves not only safety, but the visitor experience. People are more patient and relaxed when they see queues being actively managed.

 Emergency Support

Should something go wrong – from a medical incident to a lost child – having trained marshals already on site ensures the fastest and most coordinated response.

Our stewards are trained in:

First response and calling emergency services

Assisting vulnerable or injured guests

Communicating via radio with event control

Evacuation procedures if needed

In high-risk environments like New Year’s Eve fireworks or night-time events, this preparedness is absolutely critical.

Local Authority and Licensing Compliance

Many councils and safety advisory groups (SAGs) require crowd safety staff as part of the conditions for event approval. Hiring a professional team shows you take your responsibilities seriously.

We can also support your event with:

Risk assessments and safety planning

Liaison with police, ambulance, and fire services

Documentation of staff training and event protocols

This helps your event run within the law and avoids the risk of last-minute cancellations or shutdowns.

Professional Representation and Public Reassurance

Stewards and marshals are often the first people your visitors encounter. A friendly, knowledgeable team creates a welcoming atmosphere and reassures the public that safety is a priority.

Professional marshals will be:

Approachable, calm, and well-presented

Trained in public engagement and conflict resolution

Able to answer basic questions about the event

A visible presence throughout the day or night

This raises the profile of your event and builds a positive reputation among attendees, sponsors, and local authorities.

Why Experience Matters at Festive Events

December and New Year’s Eve events are not the time for trial and error. You need marshals and stewards who:

Have worked at large, seasonal public events before

Understand crowd psychology and behaviour in busy settings

Are confident dealing with unpredictable situations

Know how to communicate clearly in a high-pressure environment

Experienced marshals understand that festive events have unique challenges – from excited children and busy parents, to alcohol-fuelled behaviour at night. They can adjust their tone, positioning, and presence depending on the audience and time of day.

Tailored Support for Every Type of Event

We understand that every festive event is different. That’s why we work closely with you to create a stewarding plan that suits:

Your event layout and expected footfall

Key risk areas or attractions

Entry and exit flows

Times of day that may be busier or require more staff

We can provide teams for:

Single-day events like New Year’s Eve street parties

Multi-week attractions like Christmas markets

Indoor and outdoor venues

Public and private events of all sizes

Whether you need 5 stewards or 50 marshals, we’ll help ensure your visitors stay safe and your event stays on track.

Deliver a Safer, Smoother Festive Season

The festive season is a time of celebration – but it’s also one of the busiest and most demanding periods for event organisers. By hiring trained, experienced marshals and stewards, you add a crucial layer of safety, professionalism, and public confidence to your event.

From managing queues and crowds to responding to emergencies and supporting your team, our stewards help create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone attending.

If you’re organising a Christmas or New Year’s event this December, get in touch with us to discuss how our marshal and stewarding services can support you – and help deliver an event to be proud of.