THIS year’s Dunster Winter Festival is to be spread over three days in December as organisers look to recover from their storm-hit inaugural event of 2024.

The festival was put on last year by a community interest company formed by traders to succeed the nationally-known Dunster by Candlelight after it closed in 2023 and promote winter trade in the village.

But the very first new-look, two-day festival was hit by one of the worst storms of the winter, Storm Darragh, which forced the abandonment of all outdoor activities.

Events for the 2025 festival will start on the evening of Friday, December 5, and continue throughout the day on the Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7.

A spokesperson said: “There will be a variety of entertainment designed for visitors of all ages, including music, children’s activities, Santa's grotto and a reindeer station, lots of mediaeval-themed entertainment, a medieval banquet and re-enactment, and trader special events.

“Charming at any time of the year, the medieval village of Dunster and Dunster Castle will be dressed for Christmas and will look stunning over the festival weekend.

“We are adding more events all the time, so please keep an eye out.”

The Medieval Baebes, whose sell-out concert in St George’s Church was one of the few 2024 events to survive the weather, will return for 2025, as will Brian Hoggard with his ‘Medieval Beliefs’ talk.

New this year will be a medieval banquet on the Friday evening, a medieval re-enactment in the Tithe Barn, a music programme in St George’s Church, and children’s activities with visits to Santa in the Exmoor National Park Centre, while Dunster Castle will host a reindeer station.

There will also be a Christmas window competition for shops and residents in the village.

The full festival programme can be found on its website.