Clowns and confetti greet Santa at Kings Langley Christmas Festival (From Watford Observer)

Clowns and confetti greet Santa at Kings Langley Christmas Festival

7:35pm Saturday 28th November 2009

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An explosion of confetti greeted Santa Claus tonight as he arrived in Kings Langley for the village's annual Christmas Festival.

Surrounded by a dozen clowns, Father Christmas greeted children and their parents as hundreds of revellers filled Kings Langley High Street, which had been closed to traffic for the occasion.

Fairground rides, a go kart track and stalls manned by local organisations lined the street while many people chose to join the queue for mulled wine or to sample the hog roast.

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning, who represents Kings Langley at Westminster, said: “It's fantastic. It just shows the other villages how it should be done. This is just brilliant. It's fantastic village spirit. There must be 90 per cent of the village in the high street.”

The evening began with carols led by the Kings Langley Primary School choir before the crowds were entertained by the Kings Langley Senior School band.

Gary Lewis, headteacher of the senior school in Love Lane, said: “I don't think in all the years I've been here I've seen so many people.”

Mr Lewis then pressed the switch that illuminated the Christmas lights along the High Street before Santa Claus made his grand entrance.

Among the crowds was two-year-old Jack Jeffery and his dad Colin. They made up two of four generations of their family from Kings Langley and Hemel Hempstead who were enjoying the festivities.

Colin said: “It's nice. We'll definitely be coming back next year. Because they close the road off it's a great atmosphere. It's a nice family occasion.

“It's the first Christmas he [Jack] will know who Father Christmas is so this year he's loved it all.”

Joe Charles, from Chipperfield Road, was also enjoying the annual event with his wife Claire and their daughters Millie and Lola, both three.

He said: “We're having a great time. We come every year. Everyone's having a bit of fun. It's nice for the kids.”

Meanwhile, the Kings Langley Players took centre stage as they promoted their Christmas pantomime Aladdin, with Brian Hanley appearing in full costume as Widow Twankey.

Director Stephen Wells said: “We're fighting with other pantos so hopefully the local community will support us.

“It's a fantastic event. It's great. It seems to grow every year.”

Workers at Box 2 were also in a celebratory mood. They were presented with a trophy after some giant baubles and glittery stars in their shop window saw them crowned winners of the village's Best Christmas Display competition.

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