Hundreds of children and their families turned out to meet Father Christmas and see the lights switched on in Halstead.
The day's festivities started at 11am with a street magician, amateur dramatics group Stane Street Players and Melford Silver Band in the High Street.
In Weavers Court there were performances from Halstead's primary schools, Jackson School of Dancing and Abigail’s Performing Arts.
Children wrote letters to Father Christmas at the Letter to Santa Station in the East Anglian Children's Hospice shop, then meet the man himself at Santa’s grotto in Green Glaze Windows.
The Christmas lights were switched on at the Public Gardens at 4.30pm with Halstead Mayor David Hume and children from Holy Family, Richard De Clare and St Andrew's Primary Schools.
See this Friday's Halstead Gazette for a picture spread.
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