Ilkeston - Christmas Festival
w/e 11 December 2011
All this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490

Ilkeston's Christmas Festival began on December 3rd and was set to run for three consecutive Saturdays with various attractions and activities in the town centre. All these images come from the middle Saturday, the 10th.

Market Hunt

One of the events advertised to run through the term of the Festival was a "Town Centre and Market Hunt" where participants had to locate ten Christmas symbols on the market stalls. This obviously was only possible on market days and I only spotted two yesterday but wasn't really searching for them. A similar competition could be found every day in the windows of various town centre shops where anagrams had to be solved.
Craft Fair

In addition to the market stalls an Arts and Craft Fair where many unique products could be purchased perhaps as Christmas gifts, was held in a marquee that had been erected outside the library.
Old Fire Engine

On Saturday morning though on the stroke of eleven o'clock one of the main events of the Festival was the reason for many excited children to gather at the Co-Op to await the arrival of Santa Claus. He had given the reindeer a day off however and pulled up outside the Town Hall on an old fire engine.
Santa Arriving

He spent a few moments in his busy schedule chatting to those admiring his mode of transport before climbing down from the machine to cross the road to the Co-Op where he was greeted by many more expectant people at the main entrance awaiting Santa's arrival.
Top Brass

After lunch two more of the Festival's attractions, the Climbing Wall and a Children's Ride were joined outside the Moon and Sixpence pub by Top Brass who played a selection of Christmas tunes.
Face Painting

Also nearby a lady was engaged not only in Face Painting but also extended her talents to create designs and pictures on the back of hands.
Erewash Sound

And still in the same corner of the Market Place, the local radio station, Erewash Sound were conducting an outside broadcast playing music and interviews with local people. The "Live Roadshow" was billed to take place between 10am and 2pm with Top Brass performing between 11am and 1pm but I think the times must have been varied so that they did not compete with each other - that just wouldn't have worked at all!
Kilton Pet and Raptor Rescue

A little further away on the Lower Market Place again from 10am until 2pm were the birds of prey from regular visitors to the town, Kilton Pet and Raptor Rescue.
Ilkeston Brass

On Bath Street outside the Albion Centre Ilkeston Brass were providing their own selection of Christmas melodies with another four hour stint from 10am although I do believe there was a change of personnel during the day.
Chaucer Infants School Choir

And as soon as Ilkeston Brass finished the music continued with a charming selection of Christmas songs by the Chaucer Infants School Choir. Their choir mistress and teacher advised the surrounding proud families and other onlookers that there were many more children in the choir but a limit had been placed on their number by the council. Although few in number their enjoyment and enthusiasm in entertaining was a credit to all involved.

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