Pictures from the Hunstanton Christmas festival 2023

There were stalls, street entertainers and songs in the streets at Hunstanton on Sunday afternoon.

Stilt walkers at the Hunstanton Christmas event (Image: Chris Bishop)

Staff from By The Book, on the town's High Street, get into the Christmas spirit (Image: Chris Bishop)

Crazy Bananas takes a spin through Hunstanton on her penny farthing (Image: Chris Bishop)

Hundreds gathered to see mayor Mike Ruston throw the switch, lighting up the High Street and the Spinney.

Prior to that, the KL1 Radio stage hosted entertainment including singer Chrissie, Your Choir and local schools.

Singer Chrissie performing Fairy Tale of New York by The Pogues on stage (Image: Chris Bishop)

Mayor Mike Ruston (left) switches on the lights with KL1 Radio's Paul Baker (Image: Chris Bishop)

Refugee Nataliya Churikova and her son Roman selling Christmas cards in aid of Ukraine in the town hall (Image: Chris Bishop)

Refugees from Ukraine with some of their traditional dishes on offer at the town hall (Image: Chris Bishop)

As well as getting Christmas under way in not-so-sunny Hunny, the town council-organised event also hoped to brighten the festive season for the children of Ukraine.

Refugees from the town and across west Norfolk sold Ukrainian food, Christmas cards and gifts in the town hall.

Nataliya Churikova, who has been living in Hunstanton with her family since the start of the conflict, said proceeds would be used to buy Christmas presents for children who have lost their parents in the conflict as well as medical supplies and other relief items.

The town hall at Hunstanton lit up in Ukraine's national colours (Image: Chris Bishop)

Adrian Norman (left) and Edward Bicknell at the Spontaneous Cuppa (Image: Chris Bishop)

Trevor and Lesley Parfitt helping out at the Spontaneous Cuppa, which had opened on a Sunday to support three local charities (Image: Chris Bishop)

Mrs Christmas warns children to be good as the big day approaches (Image: Chris Bishop)

Stilt walkers delight crowds in the High Street (Image: Chris Bishop)

Robert Corby (left) and Trevor Parfitt doff their hats to Christmas (Image: Chris Bishop)

The Christmas lights in the High Street at Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

Two stilt walkers at the Hunstanton Christmas switch-on (Image: Chris Bishop)

Entertainer Crazy Bananas - aka Sally Beadle - with her monkey (Image: Chris Bishop)

The town hall was also lit in Ukraine's national colours of yellow and blue as dusk fell. Mrs Churikova said anyone wishing to donate presents could contact the group on 07467 562520.

Elsewhere in the town, the Spontaneous Cuppa cafe had also opened specially on a Sunday to raise funds for the RNLI, Women's Refuge and Hunstanton's foodbank.

Mayor Mr Ruston said: "What a brilliant day it was on Sunday. It was great to see Hunstanton Town Centre so busy and vibrant with the many different things that were going on.

"It was brilliant seeing residents and visitors coming out in such large numbers and I hope everyone who attended had as much fun as I did. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it a success."

Hunstanton is now gearing up for its celebrated Christmas swim. Hundreds are expected to take to the water off the Prom, watched by thousands more, at around 11am on Monday, December 25.