Stepping back in time for town’s festive celebration

Brighouse town centre was packed with people who flocked to sample more than 80 stalls featuring locally-produced foods and arts and crafts.

The weekend-long event also included Christmas carols sung by local school choirs, mulled wine, roast chestnuts and street entertainers.

The Central Methodist Church also staged a live nativity and offered camel rides, while there was also a Santa’s Grotto and a Lantern Parade on Saturday and Sunday led by Father Christmas in a horse-drawn carriage.

Stall-holder Kevin Good, from the Cheese, Cheese, Cheese company, based in Sowerby Bridge, said: “It’s been exceptional, fantastically well attended, great people, great atmosphere.

“Significantly better than I expected it to be and I can’t wait to come again.

“I’ve had people from Manchester, Sheffield, all over the place, not just locally.

“I think we’re going to run out of streets to put it in soon!”

Catriona Chadderton, from Fudgerific, based in Outlane, said: “I haven’t been to the festival before but people have really warmed to what we’ve had.

“It’s been a relaxed but steady pace. People have been smiling and happy, it seems like a really joyous event.

“We hope it’s back on next year so we can come back.”

Tony Ellis, from North’s SK in Brighouse, said: “It’s my very first market but it’s gone well.

“Everyone seems to have enjoyed it and the reaction has been very positive.

“It’s definitely benefited us and raised our profile.”

Steven Lord, one of the organisers, said: “This is only the second time we have organised the Brighouse Victorian Christmas Festival and it goes from strength to strength.

“The feedback, not just with the Brighouse community, but people have travelled from all over Yorkshire and even further to be here this weekend, has been fantastic.

“The positivity we have received about this independently run event through social media is truly humbling.

“We have expanded the whole event this year with the biggest ever street market, professional entertainers, parades including the fantastic three wise men camel parade put on by the Central Methodist Church.

“It just goes to show that Brighouse really is the place to be.

“This whole event is helping Brighouse thrive, both with the local stalls and our great independent shops benefitting from over 50,000 visitors throughout the weekend.

“When we see people with smiles upon their faces and the many volunteers enjoying themselves, it makes it all worthwhile. A big thank you to everyone that visited and helped out.”