The Shepton's Christmas festive event is being held this weekend to kick start the town's new Sunday market.

The monthly Sunday market held around the market cross in the centre of Shepton Mallet is now run by a new company.

It is Shepton Mallet Revival CIC, trading as The Shepton Experience which is a not for profit community interest company. 

This company has been set up by a group of Shepton Mallet residents who feel passionate about engaging with the community and wish to see the continued improvement in the community spirit in Shepton Mallet grow further.

Jude Jackson, a spokesperson for the group, said: "Our primary aim is to carry out events which will benefit the community of Shepton Mallet with particular emphasis on regeneration of the town centre.

"The Shepton Experience will strive to be not just a market but a monthly event incorporating live music, DJs, street performances, themed attractions and fun competitions.

"We have decided that these will be run on the last Sunday of each month so as not to compete with other established markets in the area, running from March through to November, with two additional special events.

"One to coincide with the very successful Snowdrop Festival on the appropriate Sunday of February and the other to coincide with the weekend event of the Lantern Parade on the appropriate Sunday of December.

"The continued success of the market is reliant on the support of the local and surrounding community and we also welcome all independent and suitcase traders in the area to come and trade with us."

The Shepton Experience has been launched after a proposal was put forward to Mendip District Council earlier this year and agreed upon at their Cabinet meeting on Monday September 2.

Shepton Mallet Town Council have also given their support to this new team and are "prepared to continue its support for the cost of entertainment each month, and help with promotion and start-up costs of setting up a new organisation".

The first Sunday event will be Shepton's Christmas on November 24 from 10am to 3pm. You can expect the usual Christmas cheer, the chance to see Father Christmas, plenty of stalls to get that perfect gift (with new and returning traders) and more, lots of shops and cafes will also be open to boost the market including free parking.

It will be followed by a Victorian Fayre on December 22 from 10am to 3pm which will complement the Lantern Parade taking place on Saturday December 21.

You can find more details of these events on the new Facebook/Instagram page: @thesheptonexperience, on the website via the red button below or contact by email: [email protected].