Crowds turn out for some Victorian fun

ABOUT 115,000 shoppers packed the city’s streets over four days as the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre celebrated its 20th anniversary.

There had been some concerns flooding in parts of the city and county might put a dampener on this year’s feast of festivities.

But the festival proved to be another huge success as it attracted visitors from all over the country to make it the second best attended in its history.

The crowds were treated to more than 130 stalls selling everything from roasted chestnuts and mulled wine to vintage clothes and hand-made arts and crafts.

There was a Victorian flavour throughout the fayre as stall holders dressed in traditional clothes from the period.

This year’s winners for best dressed male and female went to Jane Elizabeth Confectionery and Brothers Wines respectively, while Wildwood Coppice Craft won the prize for best stall display.

People of all ages had plenty to keep them entertained as part of the Cornmarket was again turned into a fairground and families enjoyed performances from dozens of acts ranging from Morris dancers to Victorian-themed jugglers.

Nadja von Dahlen, tourism marketing and events manager at VisitWorcester which organises the fayre, thanked shoppers and retailers for making it another successful year.

“It went really well and we have had fantastic feedback,” she said.

“It was nice to come back into the office and have thank you emails. We have even had several stall holders saying it was their best ever event which is great and the entertainers were very pleased with the crowds they attracted and the charity collections they made during the event.”

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