A new festive celebration is being held in Swindon later this month.
Swindon Winter Fest will take over the town centre on Saturday, November 22, with a one-day festival full of family-friendly activities and imaginative experiences.
The event features a whimsical winter trail, creative workshops, and interactive installations, with a festive trail running through the town until Christmas Eve.
Dr Rod Hebden, Director of Swindon Culture Collective CIC, said: "It's been a really joyful experience working with so many local people and organisations to create something truly magical this year, and something very different from the standard approach where there's a divide between performers and the public.
"This year, families can get involved and help create the magic together and make wonderful memories."
At the heart of Winter Fest is a trail leading visitors through a world of glowing lanterns and interactive art.
The centrepiece is The Whilers, three-metre-tall illuminated creatures brought to life by creative technology studio Air Giants.
Described as part sloth, part spirit, and part dragon, these dreamlike figures move and interact with audiences, each other, and their surroundings to create a sense of wonder.
Elsewhere on the trail, a vacant retail unit will be transformed into a lantern forest, thanks to the efforts of local artists, community groups, and schoolchildren.
Visitors will have the chance to craft their own lanterns and add them to the growing display throughout the day.
Families can also follow Muddles' Gingerbread Man Trail, a pantomime-themed scavenger hunt organised by Artsite, which invites children to find decorated gingerbread characters hidden in shop windows around the town centre.
Other free workshops and activities will run throughout the day, including Sleeping Beauty-themed crafts inspired by the Wyvern Theatre's unmissable pantomime.
Swindon Winter Fest is supported by Arts Council England's National Lottery Place Partnership Fund and is a collaboration between Swindon Culture Collective, Swindon Borough Council, Wyvern Theatre, Artsite, Gel Studios, and artists from across the town.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: "I'm so pleased that we can bring Christmas activities to the town centre again, and that we're doing it in collaboration with our partners at the Swindon Culture Collective.
"Swindon Winter Fest is going to be full of creative activities and opportunities for sustainable Christmas shopping.
"The town centre has lots of thrift and charity shops that offer pre-loved gifts looking for a new home, and it's a great opportunity to support local organisations in an environmentally friendly and affordable way.
"Obviously the experience won't be complete without a Christmas tree in the Parade and Christmas lights to cheer up the darker season.
"Really looking forward to it."
In addition to the art and activities, Winter Fest will also promote sustainable shopping with its 'Once Upon a Thriftmas' campaign.
Visitors will be encouraged to explore the town centre's network of charity and thrift shops, which offer affordable, eco-friendly gift options and support local causes.
The town centre will be dressed up for the season with festive lights and a Christmas tree in the Parade.
Winter Fest is the pilot event for a two-year programme aimed at raising the profile of Swindon's creative and cultural scene.
Organisers hope to use the experience gained this year to develop even more ambitious plans for future celebrations.
The festival is designed to blur the line between audience and performer, inviting the community to contribute, participate, and help shape the experience.
Through hands-on activities, immersive art, and a focus on togetherness, Winter Fest aims to create lasting memories for families and residents while shining a spotlight on Swindon's growing creative sector.