ORGANISERS of this year’s Christmas festivities have thanked all the volunteers involved.

Community groups joined in to help Dawlish Chamber of Trade and Dawlish Town Council put on the weekend’s events which went ahead despite forecast winds forcing changes to the programme.

Saturday’s line-up of events were cancelled by organisers following forecasted high winds. However, the decision prompted some criticism as the predicted gusts and rain had cleared overnight/

A spokesman for the Chamber said: ‘The glorious blue-sky weather on Sunday made up for the rocky start of the ‘Christmas in Dawlish’ event weekend.’

The newly formed Dawlish Town Band kicked off the Christmas Market with a bang with festive tunes in next to the bowling green, shortly followed by Father Christmas’ arrival by tractor surrounded by a large gang of Dawlish Community Transport Elves.

After parading along The Strand, Father Christmas took residence in the Gingerbread Cottage, otherwise known as Dawlish Bowling Club, where he greeted children solidly for more than three hours.

The Strand was packed with a variety of Christmas market stalls operated by local traders and charities, which was organised by Dawlish Town Council alongside lots of free family entertainment including Britain’s Got Talent singer Russell Jones Jnr, face painting and interactive character street performers.

Throughout the weekend a programme of live music was hosted inside 15 shops and eateries around the town.

This was orchestrated by Dawlish musician Emma Nankervis who also performed throughout the weekend with her band Monday’s Chyld and the sea shanty group Wrecked Again.

As well as the town council’s festive lighting scheme, extra illuminations and decorations consisting of almost 100 Christmas Trees and Gingerbread Cottage were funded and organised by Dawlish Chamber of Trade, aided by a group of local community volunteers led by Jenny Connor, with electrical and engineering assistance from Dawlish businesses SM Engineering and Red Rock Electrical, at no cost.

The Chamber spokesman said: ‘As nightfall fell the town lit up with a fabulous display of lanterns as they paraded down The Strand led by the Town Crier, his Consort and local dignitaries.

‘At the rear were two large and beautiful Black Swan lanterns created by Angie Jenner and Mary Eley, who have been running free lantern making workshops for local children over the last couple of months.

‘Also part of the parade was a live nativity with participation from all the local churches, co-ordinated by Revd Linda Cronin of the Dawlish Coast Mission.

‘As darkness descended, a very large crowd gathered on the back lawn facing the bowling green, to watch the light switch on of the Gingerbread Cottage and the avenue of Christmas trees along the bowling green perimeter fence.

'As the Gingerbread Cottage came alive, a heavy flurry of fake snow descended to the great delight of all.’

To complete the festivities, the crowd joined in with a Christmas Carol Sing-along, led by Mayor of Dawlish Cllr Anthony James and Dawlish’s Junior Town Crier of 2025, Rosie Holmes.

‘Christmas in Dawlish’ is organised and funded by Dawlish Town Council in partnership with Dawlish Chamber of Trade who funded and organised additional elements of the event.