PICTURES: Christmas comes to Newbury town centre

Christmas fun continued in Newbury town centre on the weekend with a lively market and lots of festive fun for all the family.

Newbury Artisan Market had its Christmas edition on both Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, with 60 small businesses setting up their stalls each day selling unique gifts, hot food and warming mulled wine.

There were several choir performances right beside the Paddington bench outside Camp Hopson in Northbrook Street.

Santa Claus himself made an appearance in his Kennet Centre grotto on Saturday, helped by his elves from Newbury Lions Club.

Several children met the portly and jolly toymaker, had their photo taken with him and received a small gift, courtesy of Newbury BID.

There was lots of entertainment at Parkway Shopping on Saturday as well with the centrepiece being a large ‘living’ snow globe that contained a Snow Queen sitting in a glittering winter scene.

Children could push a button to make the snow fall inside the globe as the Snow Queen threw snowflakes around.

She was joined by Lorraine Deer—a quirky stilt-walking reindeer and her jolly elf—as well as the glamorous stilt-walking Glitter Belles in their shimmery silver costumes.

There was also live music from vintage singers The Candy Girls who got everyone in a festive mood with renditions of retro Christmas hits.