Melton Victorian Christmas Fayre draws ever closer

For the second year running, the event has been spread out over three days from Friday, December 2 to Sunday, December 4.

Market traders and shopkeerpers will again be dressed in period costumes and there will several new attractions to delight the enormous expected crowds.

On Friday there will be live performances from schools, choirs, bands and local artists. Santa will arrive at his grotto via Trumpton, St Mary’s Church Christmas Tree Festival will launch and a Christmas Angel will be placed at the top of the Christmas tree in Market Place.

In the evening, there will be late night shopping and a firework spectacular to mark the switch on of Melton’s Christmas lights at 6.45pm.

Saturday and Sunday will have the usual mix of street urchins, stilt walkers roaming the town. A travelling show will be stationed outside the Kings Head pub (Sat), there will be more live musical performances, donkey rides, owl demonstrations, puppets (Sun), Sage Cross Methodist Church Festival of Cribs and a massive array of festive stalls.

Organiser Ruth Wakeling said: “There will be market stalls stretching right down the bottom of Nottingham Street.

“Last year was the first time that we rolled this out over the weekend and indeed, despite the most horrendous winds, it was a huge success.

“The footfall in the town on the Friday was up by 36 per cent and on the Saturday 76 per cent, pretty good for a first time.

“This year so far, we have two coaches booked for Friday, 12 for Saturday and similar for Sunday.

“Queen Victoria and Albert are lined up again and I know that many shops took advantage of this last year with photo shoots and invitations for her to sit and have lunch in window seats.”

For businesses there will also be a competition for the ‘Best Dressed Victorian Christmas Window’ and all stall holders are required to dress in Victorian clothing to guarantee an authentic event.

For more information and times of attractions visit www.victorian-fayre.co.uk