Thousands enjoy South Molton’s weekend Christmas Festival

Thousands turned out to South Molton’s Christmas Festival this weekend.

The entertainment kicked off on Friday evening as hundreds of children took part in the town’s annual lantern parade.

South Molton's Lantern Parade
Christmas Pannier Market in South Molton
Christmas Tree Festival at Mary Magdalene Church
Christmas Tree Festival at t Mary Magdalene Church
Jill Foley O'connor as Mother Christmas
South Molton's Christmas Festival
Shepherd and author David Kennard and his faithful dog Mist
The Best Pen of Sheep at the Fatstock Show was won by John Smale and Sons
The horse shoeing demonstration drew a crowd at the Fatstock Show
Johnny Kingdom
The Tea Cup ride on the Square
The Vintage Fair
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
Fatstock Market - South Molton 2012
South Molton Christmas Festival01
South Molton Christmas Festival02
South Molton Christmas Festival03
South Molton Christmas Festival04
South Molton Christmas Festival05
South Molton Christmas Festival06
South Molton Christmas Festival07
South Molton Christmas Festival08
South Molton Christmas Festival09
South Molton Christmas Festival10
South Molton Christmas Festival11
South Molton Christmas Festival12
South Molton Christmas Festival13
South Molton Christmas Festival14
South Molton Christmas Festival15
South Molton Christmas Festival16
South Molton Christmas Festival17
South Molton Christmas Festival18
South Molton Christmas Festival19
South Molton Christmas Festival20
South Molton Christmas Festival21
South Molton Christmas Festival22
South Molton Christmas Festival23
South Molton Christmas Festival24
South Molton Christmas Festival25
South Molton Christmas Festival26
South Molton Christmas Festival27
South Molton Christmas Festival28
South Molton Christmas Festival29
South Molton Christmas Festival30
South Molton Christmas Festival31

Several soaked up the festive atmosphere and enjoyed late-night shopping before watching the town’s Christmas lights switch on.

The Christmas Tree Festival, held at St Mary Magdalene Church, also attracted a high number of visitors over the weekend.

£3 Off Instant Passport / ID Photos - Fully Guaranteed Service

J & A Cameras Ltd

View details

Print voucher

Don't trust the photo booths? Get set for your Summer Holidays with J&A Cameras. We are offering £3 Off our Passport Office Approved Instore Passport Photo Service so come in and get it done properly!

Terms: Instant passport photos guaranteed to be correct with the passport office, or we will re-take them for free. No refunds will be given as an alternative. Valid until June 30th 2013.

Contact: 01271 447066

Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013

People came from near and far to see the building illuminated by 54 different Christmas trees, which were individually decorated by local groups.

Spectator Florence Millman said: “The lantern parade was lovely and the Christmas Tree Festival at the Church was amazing. It’s brilliant to see the whole community coming together for an event like this”.

Derry Hodgson, Church Warden, said the church had been “inundated” with visitors all weekend. He said: “We are really thankful that local people and others from much farther away, have been so supportive.”

The festivities continued on Saturday, with a host of entertainment on offer in the town centre including a number of fairground rides, a vintage fair complete with a pop-up tea room, a special South Molton-themed competition in the Pannier market and face painting.

On Sunday, hundreds turned out to the Christmas Fatstock Show. Main attractions included Combe Martin shepherd and author David Kennard and his famous sheep dog Mist. Local celebrity Johnny Kingdom was also there, talking of his latest filming adventures and exhibiting his pictures, DVDs and books.

As well as traditional crafts on offer, there were also a number of animals on show including alpacas from Langaton Alpacas, a shire horse from Jonathon Waterer's farm at Chittlehampton and an Exmoor pony.

Michael Edwards from Stags Auctioneers, who organised the show with Morley Heal, said: “It really was a wonderful day, which was very well supported by those entering, the public and our many sponsors, who we would like to thank”.