More than a thousand visitors attended a special Christmas Preview Night at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea, this week.
The centre invited guests to the event to give them the chance to see Christmas in its full glory before everyone else.
Garden centre boss Peter Burks explained: “It was a wonderful evening and the culmination of several months’ hard work by our Christmas team.”
“All our visitors said they were very impressed by this year’s displays and were wowed by the more unusual items we have sourced for Christmas 2006. Now, we can start our countdown to Christmas in earnest and our displays will be open to the general public from now onwards.”
Guests received complimentary mince pies and mulled wine, and were invited to taste and test festive chocolates, Christmas puddings and liquors.
Entertainment was provided by operatic singer Tim Pitman from Radstock, pictured right.
As well as singing Christmas carols, 36-year-old Tim performed a wide variety of songs ranging from classic pop songs from the 1950s and 1960s through to classical Aria’s made famous by world-renowned tenors such as Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, Luciano Paverotti, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli.