TENBURY is preparing for what promises to be one of the biggest shopping day of the year in the town that can make a vital difference of the bank balances of traders.

It is hoped that the Mistletoe Festival Day on Saturday (December 5) will bring thousands of people into the town to splash the cash and enjoy the magic and mystery of the ‘kissing tree.’

Despite missing out on a £11,000 grant from the Arts Council the day has been planned in the hope that it will bring people into the town not just from the Teme Valley but from other parts of the West Midlands and Marches.

A full day of attractions has been arranged in the hope that it will encourage people to spend longer than they might otherwise during a typical visit to Tenbury.

Amongst the attractions will be two Queen’s one from Tenbury High School and the other a work of art.

Kitty Houchin, head girl at Tenbury High, who according to tradition is the Mistletoe Queen, will meet and greet visitors and locals alongside Rory Huntbach, the head boy in his role as Holly Prince.

The pair will be around the town throughout the day handing out Mistletoe sprigs leading up to The Crowning Ceremony which takes place at 3.30pm outside the Pump Rooms.

Complementing the Mistletoe Queen will be a large scale willow “Mistletoe Queen” structure situated at the Activity Zone in Tenbury Library.

This was created by St Michael’s College students and Tenbury High Ormiston Academy pupils, directed by Victoria Westaway, wire sculptor and willow artist.

Both “Queens” will participate in the Santa Parade at 4.30pm to provide a fitting finale to this year’s Festival as it makes its way through the town to St Mary’s Church.

There will be other activities, celebrations and local produce for the whole family available in various “Zones” around the town.

The Kings Head public house will become a ‘performance zone’ from 11am, with the Worcestershire Levellers performing music as diverse as folk, rock and shanty; as well as the festival favourites for which they have become so well known in the region.

New for this year is the Mistletoe Open Mic sessions where anyone with a few acoustic or semi acoustic favourites can ‘take centre stage.’

The Mistletoe Music theme will also take over the town’s Pump Rooms from 12noon, with a locally-organised competition to find the area’s best singing group from any of the schools, colleges and community groups that have been invited to join in.

To help boost trade there will be a ‘shopping zone’ that will include a Christmas Craft and Vintage Fayre at the Kings Head in Cross Street from 11am until 5pm and the Winter Fayre at the nearby Crow Hotel; selling mistletoe, locally produced foods and creative gifts by local artists.

Many of Tenbury’s small, unique and independent retailers in the town will also be adorned with mistletoe, holly and berries as they welcome visitors with everything from seasonal inspiration to Christmas essentials.