PEOPLE are being urged to visit Dunster for some of their Christmas shopping and to support an online fund-raising appeal after an inaugural festival was all but wiped out by Storm Darragh.

A traders committee spent all year planning events for the first Dunster Winter Festival, a successor to the previous Dunster by Candlelight.

But nearly every event was cancelled because of a red weather alert warning of a danger to life from the storm.

The festival was saved from total disaster by the Medieval Baebes, who travelled from the Isle of Wight to lead a procession on Sunday accompanied by members of the Wessex Medieval Alliance who stayed throughout the weekend.

The Baebes were able to perform their concert ‘The Ceremony’ to a sell-out audience in St George’s Church.

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The Medieval Baebes performed in St George's Church for Dunster Winter Festival despite Storm Darragh.

A Wessex Medieval Alliance knight yields during Dunster Winter Festival. PHOTO: Nina Dodd.
A Wessex Medieval Alliance knight yields during Dunster Winter Festival. PHOTO: David Noad. ( )

Festival marketing lead Jeni Fender, owner of Made in Dunster, said: “I escorted the Medieval Baebes to the start of their procession and when I rounded the corner to High Street and saw the huge crowd waiting at the Yarn Market, it was very emotional and uplifting.

“I was very proud, but at the same time quite sad that we were not able to put on the spectacle for the whole weekend.”

The spirit of Christmas was also saved by Dunster family construction firm GA Sully and Sons, which raised the village Christmas tree back into position after the storm blew it down.

GA Sully staff raise Dunster's Christmas tree back into position after it was blown down by Storm Darragh.
GA Sully staff raise Dunster's Christmas tree back into position after it was blown down by Storm Darragh. ( )

Ms Fender said: “The tree is a little bit shorter now, but looking better than ever.”

Brian Hoggard also managed to deliver a festival talk on medieval beliefs on Saturday evening in Dunster’s National Park Centre.

Event director David Noad, of Ellicombe Manor Cottages, said: “While it was enormously devastating for the committee and the many groups and volunteers who had helped organise our inaugural festival, it was absolutely the right decision to cancel events on Saturday and put on what we could on Sunday.

“Some of the events are being rescheduled, so please look out on our Facebook page for updates.”

Ms Fender has launched a GoFundMe page to encourage everybody who had planned to attend the festival, and anybody else who wanted to support it, to donate £5 to help cover unavoidable costs which had been incurred.

The money will help to repay costs for items such as insurance and help the committee start planning for the 2025 festival, which it hopes can be bigger and better and in turn raise much-needed funds for the village and its charities and groups.

Dunster needs people to do some Christmas shopping in the village to help recover from the blow of its winter festival being cancelled because of Storm Darragh. PHOTO: George Ody.
Dunster needs people to do some Christmas shopping in the village to help recover from the blow of its winter festival being cancelled because of Storm Darragh. PHOTO: George Ody. ( )

Ms Fender said: “This is particularly devastating as somebody who also does outside markets as well, which have been hit by Storm Bert and other bad weather.

“It is a crucial time for traders and businesses, so please support our village in the run up to Christmas.

“The village is beautifully dressed and is ready to give you a warm welcome.”

Donations can also be left in Made in Dunster, in West Street, or Tessa’s Tearoom and Reeves Restaurant, in High Street.