A festive market and lantern parade in Teignmouth on Saturday (December 6) has been hailed as a ‘huge success’ in highlighting the town’s vibrant community.

Despite the inclement weather early in the day, the event saw hundreds visit the town centre for Christmas shopping, live entertainment, a chance to see Santa, and to watch a lantern parade.

Visitors to the town centre were kept entertained by Alice Cross Centre manager Peta Howell with a sing-along.

Artist Sam Lock from The Makery ran lantern workshops in the Rock and Fudge shop while The Courtenay hosted a Christmas market and Santa’s Grotto.

The festivities culminated in a community lantern parade, led by the award-winning Alice the Dragon.

There was plenty of Christmas spirit around with chair of Teignmouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Keith Underhill, giving out free cups of mulled wine and mince pies, ably assisted by Katie Russell and David Heath. And Teignmouth Bake House owners, Clive Wetten and Zack Highfield, handed out free hot chocolate and sausage rolls to participants in the lantern parade.

Local MP Martin Wrigley congratulated the organisers, particularly Sam Lock. ‘A lot of people have worked extremely hard to make this community event a success,’ he said, singling out Sam Lock for ‘her outstanding work’.

Speaking after the event, Sam said she was ‘glowing’ from seeing so many people of different ages coming together and ‘filling the town with light, laughter, and the most beautiful lanterns’.

She added: ‘What made it even more special was knowing how much heart went into bringing this day to life. A small group of genuinely community loving people worked so hard behind the scenes. Their dedication, creativity, and love for this town shone just as brightly as the lanterns themselves.’

The organisers were so inspired by the community spirit and joy that the event generated that they are already planning next year’s event.