It will be looking a lot like Christmas in Great Dunmow today (Sunday, December 8) as the town holds its second annual festive shopping day.
Shops, stalls and food markets will be turning out to support the event.
Last year The Dickensian Christmas Shopping Day first burst on to the streets of Dunmow and – due to popular demand – it is back again.
Organiser Jacky Rom said: “I am really looking forward to it because it is such a great community event. We are hoping to make it bigger and better each year. We have already expanded this year and there shall be a food market in the town square.”
Shoppers will be able to pick up their much-needed presents as well as enjoy what their high street has to offer.
And children will also have a chance to hand in their Christmas lists to Santa Claus by visiting him in his grotto at The Saracens Head Hotel.
Great Dunmow town mayor Phil Milne will be opening the shopping day at 11am, outside Lispon Photography.
He said: “Last year seemed to go very well and it makes a change from the evening shopping. It certainly brings people out and I hope they turn up again for a good time.”
There will be festive food on offer, including hot chestnuts, Christmas dinner wraps and retro sweet boxes.
Live performances will be taking place throughout the day from Scene II, the Rock Choir and Woodwind Band – Switch radio station will also be playing some festive songs.
Mike Perry, chairman of the Dunmow & District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “After a great successful year last year everybody kept saying ‘when are you doing it again?’.
“This year it is going to be an extravaganza and we are expecting even more people. It will be a great day out and really festive!”
Mr Perry, who is part of the Great Dunmow Town Team which formed earlier this year, is pleased the community are pulling together for the event.
“A bit of enthusiasm doesn’t do anybody any harm and there is quite a lot of that at the moment. It is great to see the town working as a team and coming up with these great ideas.”
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