Let us entertain you!

There’s a raft of exciting and uplifting entertainment on offer at Worcester’s traditional Victorian Christmas Fayre this year.

Our costumed characters will journey with you as you experience the sights, smells and sounds of a Victorian Christmas, accompanied by street magicians, stilt walkers and brilliant musicians on every street corner. A festive treat for all the family!

Gin Lane

Bringing you shamefully back to a time when the alley dwellers inhabited the streets, Gin Lane is back welcoming you into our alley at a time of pickpockets,
magic music halls and many unsavoury sorts. This is the dark and playful world of ‘Gin Lane’: a Victorian alleyway with its debauched inhabitants, how the other ‘arf live, some might say. We’re always looking to make a quick sixpence or two!

Make your way down the Shambles and look for this precarious alleyway to hang out amongst the hawkers and flower sellers, magic and alchemy, urchins, gin addiction, singing and dancing. Gin Lane produced by Clik Clik Collective combines the talents of local artists and performers. Come sing along with ‘Play It Again Dan’ (Dan Bramhall) tinkling the ivories to bring the old Music-halls back to life while the ‘Penny Girls’ and ‘Lee’s Fleas’ will keep you entertained. Watch those pockets as the urchins from Worcester Theatre Makers are prowling.

Gin Lane produced by Clik Clik Collective combines the talents of local artists and performers. Come sing along with ‘Play It Again Dan’ (Dan Bramhall) tinkling the ivories to bring the old Music-halls back to life while ‘Lee’s Fleas’ will keep you entertained. And watch those pockets as the urchins from Worcester Theatre Makers are prowling……

You can find Gin Lane between New street and The Shambles Friday 5pm-9pm and Sat 4pm-8pm.

Dancefest

Join Dancefest for a pop-up dance performance on your high street! Dancefest create outdoor performances in unusual spaces, and provide opportunities for anyone to take part in contemporary dance. They’ve worked with local community dancers to create a very special dance in a day performance. See them Saturday 2 December. See them on Saturday 2 December, 17:15 on The Shambles.

Temperance LadyTemperance lady

Beware of our Temperance lady as she tries to get you to sign the pledge in denouncing the demon drink. She has the skills to sneak up on you when you least expect it, and will use her wit and charm to make you leave the fun and festivities behind. Is she really as loyal to the cause as she suggests? Find her on Sunday 3 December 11:00 to 15:00.

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

Thursday 30 November, 16:45 to 17:45.
Worcester Cathedral and the Cornmarket

Everyone is invited to a community Carol service at 16:45 in Worcester Cathedral till 17:00 followed by the traditional procession to the Cornmarket where the Fayre will be declared officially open by The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Worcester.

Stilt Walkers

These lofty fellows have been entertaining our crowds since the very beginning of the event in 1992 and we are delighted to welcome them back this year. Look out for them roaming around as various characters including their Victorian Festive Gentlemen Jugglers, performing splendid juggling and witty banter as they go! See them from 30 November–3 December at various times of the day.

Cardinal’s Hat Stage

Winter Warmers

The Cardinal’s Hat  on Friar Street will host a stage of live music and entertainment during the Fayre. Join Nigel and the team for a fun-filled programme of local music with a few surprises thrown in! The Cardinal’s Hat is a friendly and informal pub with a great selection of real ale and freshly prepared pub snacks as well as boutique hotel rooms.

Join us in historic Friar Street for live music outside Worcester’s oldest pub each day of the Fayre. Good time vibes, vintage nostalgia, carols, songs from the shows and more.

Acts include Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer with their Victorian Music Hall shows, plus festive treats from the land of the midnight sun, Jazz Alchemy’s Santa Sax bringing a mellow vibe to Christmas classics, Betsy Harmony festive cheer, and The Jake Leg Jug Band offer good time music from a good-time group!

The team from the Hat will also be hosting a pop-up Friar Street beer festival and gin palace at Tudor House throughout the event.

Scrooge

Scrooge

See if you can spot Scrooge as he meanders and moans his way through the festivities of the fair. It takes a brave person to wish him a Merry Christmas…. Are you up to that challenge? Take a photo with him and see if you are the lucky individual that captures a smile upon his face. Find Scrooge on Sunday 3 December 11:00-15:00.

Sherlock Homes and Dr Watson

Sherlock Homes and Doctor Watson

Stilt-walking super sleuths Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson will be investigating the implausible and solving some complex crimes around the streets of Worcester. See them Saturday 2 December at various times of the day.

Community Stages

Our community stage will host a variety of local talent.

Thursday 30 November

Cathedral Square Stage

TimesPerformer
12:00 - 12:30King's St Alban's
12:30 - 13.00 Red Hill C of E Primary School
13:00 - 13:30St Barnabas C of E Primary School
13:30 - 14:00 Perry Wood Primary and Nursery School Choir
14:00 - 15:00Worcester Ukulele Club
15:30 - 16:15Hollymount School
18:00 - 19:00 Lyppard Grange Primary School Choir
19:00 - 20:00 The Salvation Army, Worcester
20:00 - 21:00Mice in a Matchbox

Bell Square Stage

TimesPerformer
14:00 - 15:00 Mandy Harding, Saxophone Performer
16:00-17:00 St Egwin's Middle School
17:30 - 18:00 Nunnery Wood High School

Cardinal’s Hat Stage

TimePerformer
12:00Vicki & Jonny
13:00Foregate Street Blues
14:00Foregate Street Blues
15:00Dan J Sun
16:00Vicki & Jonny
17:15Vicki & Jonny
18:15Lolly Parton
19:15Lolly Parton

Friday 1 December

Cathedral Square Stage

TimesPerformer
11:00 - 12:00TBC
12:00 - 13:00Frilly Lilly
13:00 - 13:30 Carnforth School
13:30 - 14:30 Essential Sign Language Choir
14:30 - 15:30 Nastee Chapel
15:30 - 16:30 Worcester Ukulele Club
16:45 - 18:15 Band Age
18:30 - 19:00 Griff Collins or Band Age
19:00 - 20:00 Jay Boys
20:00 - 2100 The Whole Caboodle

Bell Square Stage

TimesPerformer
2:00pm - 3:00pm Mandy Harding, Saxophone Performer

Cardinal’s Hat Stage

TimePerformer
11;00Vicki & Jonny
12:00Santa Sax
13:00Vicki & Jonny
1400Santa Sax
15:00Vicki & Jonny
16;00Dan J Sun
17:00Betsy Harmony
18:00Betsy Harmony
19:00Max Stockin

Saturday 2 December

Cathedral Square Stage

TimesPerformer
10:00 - 11:00 i-Sing Choir
11:00 - 12:00The Salvation Army, Worcester
12:00 - 13:00Got 2 Sing Choir
13:00 - 14:00 Old Meg Morris
14:00 - 15:00Droitwich Spa Community Choir
15:00 - 16:00 Rock Choir
16:00 - 17:00 Voices Unlimited
18:00 - 19:00Lollipop Youth Theatre
19:00 - 20:00i-Sing Choir

Bell Square Stage

TimesPerformer
10:30 - 11:00Appleyard Dancers
11:00 - 12:00Worcester Ukulele Club
12:00 - 12:30Appleyard Dancers
15:00-15:30 Old Meg Morris

Cardinal’s Hat Stage

TimePerformer
10:00Vicki & Jonny
11:00Max Stockin
12:00Vicki & Jonny
13:00Max Stockin
14:00Vicki & Jonny
15:00Hennesea
16:00Vicki & Jonny
17:00Santa Sax
18:00Santa Sax

Sunday 3 December

Cathedral Square Stage

TimesPerformer
11:00 - 12:00Stagecoach Malvern
12:00 - 13:00Footlights Theatre, Worcester
13:00 - 14:00 i-Sing Choir
14:00 - 15:00 Worcester Ukulele Club
15:00 - 16:00 Voices Unlimited
16:00 - 17:00 Griff Collins

Bell Square Stage

TimesPerformer
11:00 - 13:00 Loco Show Company
13:00 - 14:00 Mandy Harding, Saxophone Performer
14:00 - 16:00Foxes Morris

Cardinal’s Hat Stage

TimePerformer
11:00Vicki & Jonny
12:00Jake Leg Jug Band
13:00Jake Leg Jug Band
14:00Foregate Street Blues
15:00Betsy Harmony
15:45Betsy Harmony