Virtually every year for the last forty years our town has held an annual Victorian Christmas Festival. It is always two nights of fun, festivities and very expensive food being sold by a myriad of stall holders. But it's something that we have supported since we have been in the area.
It's wonderful to see the children enjoying themselves, from the minute the procession starts they follow along the High Street, and when Father Christmas gets off his float and makes his way down Thomas' Weind they follow him to his grotto and then stay for the shows and the fair.
There's something for everyone, and things to suit most tastes be it foody or gifty.
Mulled wine.
Potatoes or parched peas.
Grasmere Gingerbread
Morecambe Bay Chowder
Pickles, chutneys and cheese of every description.
The High Street is filled with people enjoying themselves and the buzz that this creates. Virtually everyone is in a good mood and strangers talk to strangers, as is the way in most Northern towns. The shops stay open late and trade their wares to regulars and visitors alike.
It's a good night and enjoyed by all ages.
We both really enjoyed the atmosphere of the evening, and while we didn't buy much we did support some of our local eating places and charity shops.
Alan partook of a couple of 'pigs in blankets' skewers while we both drank coffee in Cobblers to warm our hands. I bought a lovely handknitted scarf from the Hospice shop, and a little glass jug from Age UK. Then we finished the evening with a plate of chips each while we warmed up in our eat-in chippy.
It was a very good start to the Christmas celebrations.
Sue xx
What a lovely evening you had and a very Christmassy start to your Christmas.
ReplyDeleteIt really was. :-)
DeleteProper 'local' goods too, not lots of imported stuff
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it I don't remember seeing any imported stuff, the crafts were all handmade or locally produced as far as I could see.
DeleteSounds like a proper local celebration.
ReplyDeleteIf the roads aren't flooded I shall be heading out to Christmas Fairs today
There's a lot of flooding isn't there, fingers crossed that you manage to get out to the Fairs.
DeleteSounds like a fun evening and a nice way to start off the Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have something like that to get us in the Christmas spirit isn't it.
DeleteIt all looks lovely! I would have bought the gingerbread for sure. I love it.
ReplyDeleteIt made me happy that you bought a hand knitted scarf. I knit and crochet in my spare time. It keeps me sane and stops me killing someone.😁
People don't seem to value hand kitted/ crochet items these days. The cost of the yarn alone is immense. And the time it takes to create something is significant too.
Well done you. I hope it keeps you warm! X
Check out Wool Warehouse in Leamington Spa. They have great sales on their wool and patterns. When it arrives, it's packed in a lovely drawstring organza bag which I use as my knitting bag. I've given up buying from anywhere else. Just hit their sales and make sure I get over the free p & p baseline.
DeleteWool Warehouse is excellent, but I'm finding I only knit for myself now, sounds selfish but so much time, effort and money goes into it.
DeleteAlison in Devon x
Christina - Sadly there was no food that I could buy, everything had either meat or dairy of some description. And for once Alan was being good and not buying sweet stuff, so no gingerbread was bought. I also struggle to find handknitted things that I can buy second-hand as I am allergic to wool, as far as I can tell this is acrylic ... we will see when I wear it. But it definitely feels cosy. :-)
DeleteHappy Introvert - Wool really is expensive these days isn't it, as it should be really. If only local farmers benefited from it's sale. I have only ever bought non-wool items as I can't wear wool.
DeleteAlison - I doubt any crafter would be able to get the price that their materials and labour warrant these days. Just knitting and crocheting for yourself is the only way to do it isn't it.
DeleteHappy introvert! I have been their customer for almost ten years, not long after they opened! I have more pink, organza bags than any level headed person should have. I've been waiting for king cole Firefly to come back into stock for six weeks. Hope it comes in soon. Thanks
Delete:-)
DeleteHow lovely to see al the stallholders selling local food-I love Grasmere gingerbread! Beautifully knitted scarf and lovely and bright for these dark days. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThey, and lots of the other stalls that I don't have photos of were doing a brilliant job of advertising local wares. It's a pretty unique scarf isn't it, not the sort of colours that I usually go for, but it really appealed to me. :-)
DeleteThat does look lovely and civilised; I think I might have been tempted with the Morecambe Bay chowder :-)
ReplyDeleteMorecambe Bay chowder is very popular, but is something that I have never eaten as I have never eaten shrimp or crustaceans. I think Alan quite fancies it, but it was very expensive on the night AND he was full of pigs in blankets. :-)
DeleteThat parched peas recipe looks delicious. I'm a great fan of mushy peas, unfortunately my husband's not keen.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely, fun, festive good-humoured way to start December.
I have never liked mushy peas, so I doubt I would like parched peas either, I think it's the slightly chalky mouth-feel texture that really puts me off. Alan however, is a big fan. :-)
DeleteI loved your charity shop hand knitted scarf too. Fascinated by the parched peas, I've never tried them. OH is from Lancashire - I'll have to ask if he likes them .
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas event looks lovely
Alison in Devon x
It was a really good find wasn't it. :-)
DeleteI have never tried parched peas, and on the night they always sell out really quickly, especially the town ladies stall down one of the alleys, they only usually last an hour or so and then they are sold out.
It looks like our Christmas shopping evening, when the road is shut to traffic and various stalls are set out. I've never heard of 'parched peas' before!
ReplyDeleteIt creates a lovely atmosphere when a road is closed to traffic doesn't it. Ours used to be like that every market day, but the rule changed a couple of years ago and now you can drive slowly past all the stalls every Thursday. Parched peas are quite unique to our area I think. :-)
DeleteThat is a gorgeous coloured scarf and the little jug is sweet. I'd have been drawn to the cheeses like a duck to water! but a plate of hot chips is essential on a cold evening. Glad you had a lovely time :)
ReplyDeleteAngie
Alan was briefly tempted by the cheeses, but he decided he had enough for now. He is planning on getting some just before Christmas though. :-)
DeleteLooks like a fun festival, and I love how the vendors get into the spirit with their clothing.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's not compulsory for them to dress as Victorians, but a lot of them do and most of the shops have Victorian style window displays. The Save the Children charity shop had most of it's male volunteers and staff as characters from Peaky Blinders, which I'm not sure is the right era but they did look good. :-)
DeleteI'd never heard of parched peas until I bought some Carlin peas from Hodmedods. I haven't made the parched pea recipe yet but I have made a Carlin pea curry which was delicious. They are more like a chickpea than anything else, but British grown so less food miles.
ReplyDeleteYour festival looks great fun. How fabulous that they have managed to keep it going so long.
Yes, I was surprised to find out that it had been going for that long. :-)
DeleteSounds like a wonderful two evenings. Hmmm, must look up what parched peas are as that sounds so very interesting.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Click on the link in the post and you will be taken to the recipe page. They are basically black peas. :-)
DeleteThat looks a great evening out. Tam, Rosie and I are going to the Christmas Fair in town next Saturday and then on to Hay-on-Wye for theirs.
ReplyDeleteIt's good that there's lots to look forward to in December isn't it. I hope you all have a lovely time at both events. xx
DeleteYou had me at the pigs in blankets' skewers!!!! What a cool celebration to have locally!!! I'd love that!!
ReplyDeleteAlan absolutely loved them, even I thought they looked good so that's saying something. :-)
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