Victorian Evening

The Victorian Evening is an annual event which marks the beginning of the festive season. Hundreds of people come into the town to take advantage of the extended shop hours, see the switching on of the Christmas Lights and enjoy the Victorian atmosphere provided by shopkeers and others being dressed in Victorian attire.There is a best dressed shop window competition, a children's lantern parade led by Santa, and music. The muscial entertainment this year was provided by the HMS Heron Volunteer Band, the Salvation Army Band, the Ilminster Town Band and the Serenaders Choir. There was a hog roast in the Market Square as well as other food stalls and mulled wine provided by Ilminster Lions. At 7am on Saturday 23 November volunteer litter pickers began the clean-up of the town centre. Operating in pairs they collected litter in East Street, Silver Street, West Street, North Street, Ditton Street, Frog Lane and Swan Precinct. The overflowing litter bins were also emptied.

A total of 15 bags of litter and one bag of cans and bottles were collected. The Victorian Evening Committee took the 15 bags away for collection by Somerset Waste Partnership. The bottles and cans went to recycling bins. South Somerset District Council provided the extra litter pick tools, black bags and surgical gloves. The clean-up was completed in just over one hour. .