THE organiser of a festival in Usk held over the weekend said he is sure this year’s was the best attended yet.

The Usk Festival was visited by 5,000 people in 2013 but David Samson said he was sure numbers to the town were up on that total and that good weather had played its part.

Mr Samson, who has managed the festival since it started eight years ago, said: “It has gone incredibly well. We had eight hours of live music yesterday that was well appreciated.”

The annual reindeer parade, organised by Usk town council, started at 5pm and ended at Sessions House. Mr Samson said atmosphere had ramped up in anticipation of Santa arriving and touring around the town.

There were 50 stalls set up around the Twyn Square and people purchased food and listened to live music in a marquee there over the weekend.

Luke James, who works at The Castle Inn, said of Mansel Davies’ performance at the pub on Saturday night: “It started after all the stalls had closed for the night, at 9pm. It went really well. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and had a bit of a dance.”

Other music was performed on the festival stage yesterday, including performances from the Monmouthshire Community Choir, Krystal Mills, Rock Choir and The Mystery Room.

Yesterday Sarah Campbell-Horner performed at The New Court Hotel and Apple Tree Theory performed there on Saturday. Usk choir The Flying Shepherds also performed on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile as part of Blaenavon's Winter Wonderland, Princess Elsa and Anna and snowman Olaf from the hit film Frozen paid a visit to the town on Saturday.

Blaenavon mayor Sylvia Lewis spent much of the day there and opened it at 11am.

She said: “It was smashing. The weather was absolutely incredible and we were lucky with that. Listening to what people were saying, they would love to have a Christmas market.

“Lots of people were enjoying themselves and the entertainment was really good.”

A traditional Victorian fun fair and face painting was available while the Blaenavon Town Band and Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School’s choir performed.