Thousands of visitors took a trip down memory lane at Brighouse’s Victorian Market weekend.
The Brighouse Victorian Christmas Festival recreated a Dickensian Christmas with a huge street market full of gifts, shops decorated in Victorian style, street entertainers, choirs, brass bands, parades, street food and a funfair.
And, in an unusual twist, there was a live-action Nativity show - featuring real camels.
It got underway on Saturday and also ran today, and was organised by the Brighouse Business Initiative, a collective of town centre traders who were all dressed in Victorian clothes for the event.
Resident Peter Dalby said: “It’s brilliant, you can’t fault the effort and the results of the Brighouse team that puts this on. The hard work shows and I hope it pays off.
“Since the businesses have started doing this my family has re-thought our spending habits. We certainly do more shopping local than we did a few years back, and it’s nice to see different things to buy that the usual high street shops don’t have.
“It’s a great community to be part of and a great event.”
The event attracted lots of families and the Holroyd family were one of them.
Dad Ian, mum Louise and children Oliver, seven, and Rosie, five, were queuing up to go on the town centre rides.
Louise said: “We’ve tried to hold back on the Christmas excitement until now, and it’s really got us in a festive mood.
“The stalls are brilliant, we’ve bought some new decorations for the Christmas tree and a few treats for the kids.”
The event got underway with ‘Queen Victoria with Prince Albert’ officially opening the event after a parade in a vintage car from the railway station.
Sunday boasted a lantern parade at 4pm prior to the Christmas lights switch on.
Santa was paraded through town at 4pm in the carriage pulled by shire horses.
Steven Lord, of the Harrison Lord Gallery helped organise the event, and said: “We held the first festival last year and it was hugely popular with over 50,00 people coming to enjoy the event.
“It really makes Christmas feel special as the whole town turns the clock back to Victorian times. It’s a great family day out with lots to entertain the children whilst mum and dad can enjoy the Christmas market.”
