Evesham Pagan Festival hailed a 'huge success' by organisers

Crowds gathered far and wide to visit Evesham yesterday (Saturday) to celebrate the Evesham Pagan Festival, which hosted various talks and dances. 

It was the first-ever pagan festival to be hosted in the town.

The Mayor of Evesham, Alan Booth, enjoying the indoor market. (Image: Evesham Pagan Festival)Organizer Sue Treanor hailed the event as a huge success, saying people had travelled from Ireland to attend.

She said: "The day was a huge success.

"We had a steady stream of customers all day and the traders did really well.

Morris Dancers. (Image: Evesham Pagan Festival)"People loved the dancers and also the local Morris dancers.

"We had talks and demonstrations all day, which were completely full - we even had to turn people away! 

"Even the Almonry had extra visitors and I know a few people stayed in local hotels - all great news for the town."

Inside the Pagan market in Evesham Town Hall. (Image: Evesham Pagan Festival)She wanted the event to help bring more people to Evesham and was proud that it did just that.

The festival had a range of dance shows, including live entertainment at The Red Lion.

There was a pagan market in Evesham Town Hall.

It also hosted a drumming circle where people brought their drums and hit them to a rhythm.

There were performances in the town centre. (Image: Evesham Pagan Festival)The act is said to raise energy from the beating drum and release it into the circle.

"It is hard to put a number on how many people were there - there was a steady stream all day," she said.

"There must have been at least about 300 people throughout the day."

Paganism is a growing religion in the UK that is based around nature, energy and the seasons.

Humans are seen as being part of nature's cycles along with other animals, trees, stones, and plants.

The Evesham Pagan Festival marked Ostara, a Pagan solar holiday honouring spring's warmth, light, and earth's awakening.