BRAINTREE hailed the start of Advent with a dramatic Christmas lights switch-on amid flurries of manmade snow, singing and dancing.
On Sunday, the streets of Braintree town centre were lined with festive stalls and marquees broadcasting entertainment to Christmas shoppers and merry-makers alike.
At 4.30pm, on November 30, Tigger of Winne the Pooh fame pressed the button to turn on the Christmas lights to roars and cheers from the crowd.
One local rising star who sung in the lead-up to the switch-on, Jessica Alice, who recorded her new music video in a Braintree car park last month, said: "I got to stand right next to Tigger, which was fun."
Another local starlet, Jazz Blaack, from Maldon, performed for her third year running on the Heart Radio Stage just before the button was pushed. She said: "I love performing at the Braintree Christmas lights switch-on as it is my favourite one in Essex."
Jazz Blaack, who a played a part in new film, The Beat Beneath My Feet, added: "I enjoyed performing for the crowd and it has been a wonderful night."
Many of the town's businesses and charities set up their stalls before 8am in anticipation of the Christmas shoppers who would visit for the main event.
The designer for one local flower and craft business, Ellie Rose, said: "There has been a great atmosphere here today, although the weather has tended to be a bit on the cold side.
"It has been good to see such a large turnout, which really shows the importance of this event in the community."
The annual Christmas fayre included stalls in the Town Hall and High Street, plus Braintree Museum hosted a storytelling event with a nativity scene.
Activities during the day included a classic cars display, craft workshops, a Santa's grotto, a Christmas word hunt, a Punch and Judy show, free face-painting for children, cheerleading, and torch-lit tours at Braintree Museum. There were also children's rides, including a bungee trampoline and a snow globe.
Acts, including the Funky Voices choir, Becker's Green School choir, Braintree College teachers and students, Rascal Theatre School, the Daniel Ribbits Rock Choir and other individuals, also performed on the Heart FM stage throughout the day.
