Get set to be transported back in time for festive fun later this week when Worcester's Victorian Christmas Fayre returns.
The spectacular event runs from Thursday 30 November until Sunday 3 December with more than 150 stalls filling the city's streets.
Now in its 31st year, the Victorian Christmas Fayre is one of the most prestigious street fayres in the Midlands, regularly attracting more than 150,000 visitors across the four days and contributing millions of pounds to the local economy.
Visitors can enjoy all the sights and sounds of a Victorian Christmas with costumed characters, street magicians and stilt walkers wandering among the crowds.
With the streets lit up for Christmas, over 150 stalls and chalets will be selling crafts, toys, gifts and a wealth of locally-produced food and drink, including roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, mince pies and much more. The stalls will be in place in High Street, Cathedral Square, Pump Street, New Street, Friar Street, Cornmarket and The Shambles.
The festive fun will begin on Thursday with a community carol service between 4.45pm and 5.15pm at Worcester Cathedral before a procession to the vintage carousel in the Cornmarket where the Fayre will be officially opened by the Mayor of Worcester Cllr Louis Stephen.
Among the varied entertainment over the four-day Fayre will be music and a pop-up dance performance by Dancefest on Saturday 2 December at 5.15pm on the Shambles. Also on the Saturday, stilt-walking super-sleuths Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson will be investigating the implausible and solving some complex crimes around the streets of Worcester.
If you visit on Sunday 3 December, keep a lookout for Scrooge as he meanders and moans his way through the Fayre's festivities between 11am and 3pm.Also wandering around the Fayre at that time will be the Temperance Lady who will try to get you to sign the pledge denouncing the demon drink, using her wit and charm to attempt to make you leave the fun and festivities behind. But is she really as loyal to the cause as she suggests?
The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Louis Stephen, said: "Christmas in Worcester is always the best of fun and the festive magic doesn't get much better than our Victorian Christmas Fayre. It's one of the highlights of the year and we're really looking forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy the fun-packed street entertainment and the wonderful stalls offering so many gift ideas."
This year's Victorian Fayre is being sponsored by First Bus which will be operating its Park & Ride service (number 910), providing a cheap and convenient way to visit the Fayre. The Park & Ride goes from County Hall to Worcester Crowngate Bus Station, on Friday from 5pm until 10pm; on Saturday from 8:35am until 6pm, and on Sunday from 9.45am to 3.30pm.
Fares will be £2 single or £4 return and the company is also offering a £10 group ticket – available for up to five people, providing unlimited travel all day within the Worcester network. The group ticket is only available on the First Bus app.
First Bus will also be providing an enhanced service throughout the Fayre, with extra buses. Find out more
