PICTURES: Old-fashioned Christmas event gets Long Melford in festive mood
The festive spirit was certainly in evidence in Long Melford last Sunday as the village’s third annual Olde Christmas event took place.
Emma Butler Smith, who organises the day along with four other villagers who form the Long Melford Christmas Association, said it was helped along by the sun shining and a great turnout of visitors from near and far.
She said: “The day was so lovely and sunny at the start, and that made a huge difference. The village was pleasantly full.
“The day is about welcoming people to Long Melford to appreciate what it has to offer. Lots of people get dressed up in period costumes.”
The self-funding annual event sees Father Christmas making an appearance in his grotto – an empty shop transformed for the day – along with real reindeers and donkeys.
Long Melford Silver Band entertained the crowds, with visitors able to enjoy an array of food and refreshments, from a barbecue to a hot soup, mulled wine and mince pies. There were steam engines on show.
As dusk fell, a spectacular lantern parade took place, with children from the village’s primary school, as well as other organisations, displaying their colourful artwork.
In a sparkling finale, the village’s Christmas tree lights were switched on at the end of the day.
