IMAGES and sensations from the Victorian era will be recreated in Grassington over the next three Saturdays.

It is staging its annual Dickensian Festival and this year's extravaganza includes the first-ever Christmas Tree Festival, which will be held in the Congregational Church.

The village will be brimming with market stalls - many supporting local charities- complemented by a craft fair in the town hall and a Christmas market in the square.

There will also be magic shows, Punch and Judy, living statues, circus entertainers, buskers, chestnut sellers, shoe shine boys and pickpockets, all adding to the unique atmosphere that has been emanating from Grassington’s streets in the run-up to Christmas for the past 33 years.

Visitors will be entertained by a mix of bands, thespians and singers performing at the bandstand.

Among those appearing are Hebden Bridge Band, Barnoldswick Band, the Penny Plain Theatre Company in the guise of Victorian ne’er-do-wells, harmony singers Baccappella and the Sneaky Experience Theatrical Company, who will perform its Victorian ventriloquist's act.

As ever, children will be able to visit Santa in his magical hideaway grotto and take part in a torchlight nativity procession, led by Mary and Joseph on their donkey.

The nativity scene, accompanied by community carol singing by the bandstand, has often been hailed as the highlight of the day as the square, shrouded in smoke from the open braziers, is lit by torches and lanterns.

"Images and aromas of a bygone era don’t come any more evocative than this," said festival organiser Angela Jackson. “I am amazed each year by the growing effort and contribution the entire community puts in to keep the festival vibrant and successful.

"This year we are excited to be offering our first ever Christmas Tree Festival in the village’s Congregational Church. Come and see local individual and organisations’ efforts at tree decoration, from the traditional to the unexpected, from the majestic to the curious. We hope this will be the first of many Christmas Tree Festivals to come.”

Angela added that the village encouraged visitors to dress in Victorian attire as the local shopkeepers, cafe owners, hotel staff and stallholders all endeavoured to adhere to the Victorian theme.

“We particularly encourage shops to dress their windows too and this year’s theme is The Twelve Days of Christmas." said Angela. “You can test your detective skills by joining in the hunt to track down the geese-a-laying, drummers drumming and five gold rings, amongst others, all hidden in curious ways in our many shop windows.”

Over the years the Dickensian Festival has helped many local charities and organisations, such as the Grassington Town Hall, Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue, Grassington Museum and Wharfedale Rugby Club Juniors, raise much needed funds.

The festival opens on Saturday and will also run on Saturdays, December 6 and 13, from 10am to 5pm. Park and ride facilities are in operation from Threshfield Quarry and cost £10 per cost.