THERE was plenty of Christmas cheer in Malvern as thousands of excited visitors enjoyed a day full of festive celebration.
Malvern Theatres panto stars Mark Moraghan of Coronation Street and Holby City fame and Balamory’s PC Plum Andrew Agnew had the honour of switching on the lights on Saturday (November 28) to the cheer of around 4,000 people in Church Street.
Santa also greeted the large crowds as part of the Christmas Festival themed day helping them take selfies on their mobile phones.
Organisers Malvern Town Council said the event saw one of its biggest turnouts since the event took place in its current form a decade ago.
Eadwine Brown, events coordinator at Malvern Town Council, said: “The day was a huge success and it drew one of the largest parades we have ever seen.
“The panto stars played their part to the success greeting the crowds and taking photos which was great to see.”
Other activities throughout the day included a fun fair, market, face-painting, craft workshops and music from the Malvern Saxophone Choir and Dyson Perrins Concert Band, and traditional dancing from the Appleyard Dancers and Old Meg Morris.
Malvern Community Hospital also hosted the Malvern Chase Brass Band and the Malvern Salvation Army Band.
The climax of the festival was the traditional lantern parade from Malvern Theatres, up Church Street to Belle Vue Island. The lanterns were made by the dozens of school children who took part in this year’s parade.
More than £570 was also raised for the Mayor of Malvern Julian I’Anson’s charity Childline.
