Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza
The Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza is a highlight of Berkshire’s festive calendar and is held on the second Friday of December each year. The event transforms the town into a Victorian-era wonderland, complete with fairy tale Christmas lights, steam engines, entertainers, charity stalls, food stalls, and a Lantern Parade.
The festivities kick off at 5pm with a Christmas street fair of stalls, Santa’s grotto, Christmas horse carriage rides, steam engines, festive food and drinks, big wheel and fairground rides. There’s also an indoor Christmas market in the Town Hall offering crafts, honey, cakes, cheese, chocolates and liqueurs, jewellery, glassware, knitted accessories, smoked trout, books, pies, pastries, cosmetics and organic oils.
One of the highlights of the event is the Best Victorian Costume competition. Participants dress up in Victorian-era costumes and winners are invited to join the Parade. The Extravaganza Parade at 7.30pm features the Reading Scottish Pipe Band, Rock Choir, Razzamatazz Theatre Group, the Tin Soldier Juggler, Christmas Fairy on stilts, Community of Hungerford Theatre Group, Hungerford Lanterns and more.
For some late-night Christmas Shopping don’t miss the famous Hungerford Arcade. However, due to the cost of living crisis and the extra energy costs businesses are facing at the moment the Extravaganza organisers have made the hard decision not to include fireworks this year as they have shot up in price.
The event is funded by donations from local businesses and grants from Greenham Trust, Hungerford Town Council and Town & Manor of Hungerford. If you’re in the area during this time of year, it’s an event not to be missed!
