With an ice rink, some stalls stocked with festive fayre and some well-placed outdoor furniture Leicester University Students' Union kicked off a month-long countdown to Christmas as December got underway.
December 1st-2nd saw around 20 Christmas market stalls set up around a free ice rink on Central Campus, with activities open from 10am right through to 8pm on both the Thursday and the Friday.
The market stalls and ice rink were open for the whole of that time, while real reindeer arrived from 2pm to 6pm both days, and visitors had the chance to climb inside a giant snow globe from 1pm to 6pm for a photo opportunity.
Music and festive drinks added to the frivolity, and the campus Christmas lights were switched on during the event as well, further adding to the sense of occasion.
And thanks to a plentiful supply of outdoor furniture Leicester's students didn't need to worry about being able to rest their weary legs after a hectic session on the skating rink.
The Christmas market was just the first in a month-long celebration of the season, with activities taking place across the University of Leicester campus.
On the evening of Monday December 5th there were carols in the Students' Union Square, following an afternoon of craft as students made Christmas postcards to send back home.
And on Tuesday December 6th, the Student Hub will be a hive of activity with sessions to make festive wreaths and handy draught excluders.
Later in the week on Thursday December 8th, activity returns to the SU Square for a Christmas card workshop, while on Friday there's a festive movie marathon in the Alumni Room.
The variety of these events - many of them taking place outdoors in the SU Square and around the Central Campus - offers some inspiration for last-minute seasonal events for other venues in Leicester and beyond.
All you need is some suitable outdoor furniture, such as long folding tables and stacking chairs, to quickly set up some versatile stalls and seating areas whether for craft sessions, to serve food and drink, or to allow your visitors to sit down after the activity of ice skating or dancing to some Christmas music.