THE cacao not champagne will be flowing when a new drink and drug-free festive bash is staged in Worcester.

The solstice celebration will start with cacao to give the spirits a lift, a tai chi taster to warm up the body followed by a chance to groove to a two-hour set by city DJ Ed Steelefox.

And the event, called the Woo Town Cacao Club, will end with a sound bath to help everyone wind down.

Co-organiser Charlotte Burbidge said it was the perfect evening for people who wanted to have fun and stay sober.

She said: "This is for people who don't want to drink alcohol all the time but dance and have fun in a safe space.

"It's a great event to add to other winter activities. You will have no hangover and will be able to drive home!"

Ms Burbidge, who runs Dragons Heart Breath Tai Chi in Worcester, said tai-chi is a great way to help people dance sober for the first time.

She said: "It encourages us to ease the body gently using simple meditative movements to open up stiff joints, breathe deeply and warm up the body to help us move."

However, she stressed there was no obligation to dance but believed everyone has a natural rhythm.

She said: "There will be spaces for just listening and enjoying the music and an outside courtyard to chat and get some air for those who don't want to dance.

"However, I truly believe we all have an innate sense of rhythm and joy at moving when the beat takes us.  Many of us have had it knocked out of us, especially at school.  

"Tapping feet, swaying, walking gently, moving from foot to foot, waving arms - all perfect. It's an opportunity to be yourself in a non-judgemental space."

She organised the event with friend Sarah Cotterill after going to a Cacao Club in Shrewsbury.

She said: "We realised we’d love to hold these types of events in Worcester together. 

"We really want to bring connection, community and creativity to the city."

Ms Cotterill stressed the importance of the Cacao Club for her mental health.

She said: "I was at a particularly low point when I met up with some friends who wondered if I'd like to go to some kind of 'chocolate dance thing' with them.

"The event helped me realise the importance of dancing with others for my mental health and emotional resilience.

"Finding opportunities to dance with others were few and far between."

Meanwhile, popular city DJ Steelefox, who plays an eclectic mix of tunes, is promising his own brand of hot chocolate for the evening.

He said: "I'll be mixing up a midwinter storm and turning up the temperature on the dancefloor to melt everyone together."

If the event is a success, the organisers hope to hold a Cacao Club each season.

Ms Burbidge said: "Each Woo Town Cacao Club will tune into the seasonal changes and bring people in the city to connect with others and themselves."

The Woo Town Cacao Club will take place at St Swithun's Institute, The Trinity, Worcester, on Saturday, December 21 from 7.15pm to 10.30pm.

For more details log on to tickettailor.com/events/wootown/cacaoclub