HUNDREDS of residents flocked to Bromsgrove’s St John’s Church after the lights switch-on on Saturday for the second MidWinterFest.
Visitors were able to see the town illuminated from 200ft in the air by climbing the church tower, give bell-ringing a go, embark on a scary ghost walk around the graveyard and browse a host of Christmas craft stalls. There was festive food at the Winter Warmers Cafe. children could colour in pictures of Father Christmas and local historian Simon Henderson also gave tours inside the church to shed light on the venue’s past.
MidWinterFest is organised by Friends of St John’s to raise funds for the maintenance and restoration of Bromsgrove’s Landmark building.
Chairman Jo Slade said: “It was fantastic to see so many people walking from town to the church.
“The Blackwell Concert Band played festive tunes at the top of Crown Close to welcome the visitors, and this created a lovely Christmas atmosphere.
“Whilst we do need to raise vital funds for the ancient building, it was wonderful to be able to give the people of Bromsgrove a free event with so much to get involved in, after the lights switch-on.”
She thanked the bell-ringers for giving up their time to teach others and to residents for going along.
And the organisers are already planning next year’s event.
