VIDEO: Santa visits Beverley for Festival of Christmas:
SANTA paraded through Beverley for yesterday's Festival of Christmas, accompanied by dogs, a band and hundreds of cheering children.
He was helped by hounds dressed up in antlers pulling sledges.
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Lead elf Martin Flint in the reindeer enclosure outside St Stephen's. Right, Father Christmas waves to the crowds.
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The crowds at Beverley Festival of Christmas.
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Santa giving gifts to children who gathered outside St Stephen's to see him. Pictures: Peter Harbour
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The parade goes down Toll Gavel.
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John and Abigail Brumby in Victorian dress on the Scrubbys crisps stall.
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Believe in Santa campaign at St Stephen's centre, Ferensway, Hull, pictured is Santa giving gifts to children who gathered outside St Stephen's to see him. Picture: Peter Harbour
The Bernese mountain dogs joined him in a parade through the centre of Beverley, tails wagging at the delighted crowds.
"We've been doing the Beverley festival for about ten years," said Pauline Bullock, 62, who brought her dogs Asta and Mehr to join in the fun.
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"They're great with children. They love coming – everybody makes a big fuss of them and makes them feel very important."
The dogs are working animals. In Switzerland, they are used to haul milk down from high pastures.
"We love coming – it's a good market and people love to see us," Ms Bullock said.
"They love greeting people."
Saturday and Wednesday Market were both packed with stalls selling seasonal produce.
Many traders dressed up in Victorian costumes to get into the spirit of the day. John Brumby was selling handmade vegetable crisps in a top hat and frock coat with his daughter Abigail, 11.
His company, Scrubbys, launched six months ago.
"We're newbies to everything but the festival was fantastic," he said.
"We sold just over 60 sharing bags in half an hour.
"I think the Victorian dress just adds to it. It brings some Christmas spirit and gets everyone in the mood."
A vintage car show was held in North Bar Within.
It included a 1940s Army Jeep, complete with machine gun, being driven by a man dressed as Santa.
"The Americans used to do this in their Army Jeeps," owner Gary Argent said.
"We have a photo from 1941 of a jeep on an Army camp giving out presents.
"They used to deliver toys to local kids while on active service."
Beverley town mayor Margaret Pinder said it was fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves.
"There's always a good turnout," she said. "It's one of the biggest events in Beverley.
"The weather was absolutely perfect."
The mayor said Beverley's festival was so popular with traders, it had a waiting list.
"It's such a nice family day," she said.
"There's a nice variety of stalls as well – it's not all twee Christmas things."
Comments
by PurpleParrot
Monday, December 10 2012, 6:52PM
“Beverley really pulled out all the stops yesterday, there was so much going on, cars, stalls, dancers, birds, re-enactments. Far too many people mind, really difficult to get around and parking was murder. All great fun though, thoroughly good day.”