Sweet-toothed revellers flocked to take a step back in time at Pontefract Castle's medieval event on Saturday and celebrate National Liquorice Day on Sunday.
Samba beats from The King's School Samba Band led a colourful parade on Sunday before live music, street entertainers and circus skills thrilled the crowds.
A bustling market also sold out of allsorts of liquorice products during the world-famous extravaganza.
Festival organiser Bev Adams said: "It was absolutely fantastic and the streets were packed.
"There were times when you could barely move for all the people.
"Hotels were full while our liquorice talks drew in people from all over the world.
"We pulled out all the stops and this year's event was our best ever."
Highlights at the festival included daredevil fire limbo dancing from the Black Eagles Acrobats and a six-foot liquorice dalek, which attracted a 4,000-strong crowd to Pontefract Museum.
This year's event was cut back to a weekend after vital funding was slashed.
Peter Sykes, chairman of Pontefract Liquorice Trust, said: "We've never had crowds like it before. It couldn't have gone any better.
"We used all our reserves to make sure this year's event went ahead.
"The weekend made it all worthwhile – but unless we get support from businesses, people and groups there won't be a festival."
The future of cash-strapped Pontefract Heritage Group, which organised jousting, falconry and battle re-enactments for the medieval day, was also saved by the festival.
Chairman Bernie Weston said: "It was absolutely brilliant. We had 5,735 visitors at the castle and are finally solvent again.
"Thanks must go to the councillors for our community chest grant, Halfords for its donation and to everyone who worked really hard to help out or came along.
"We couldn't have done it without them."