More than 2,000 people waved flags with pride as 100 soldiers from Thorney Island marched through the village to mark England's national day.
There were exhibitions, a concert and a market to celebrate being English.
Organisers say it wasn't ju
st a one-off – and plan an event of similar scale next year.
The village was closed off for two hours, but organisers are not worried about the event following in the footsteps of the Emsworth Food Festival, which was scrapped over worries it had become too big for the village.
Organiser Brendan Gibb-Gray, chairman of Emsworth Business Association, said he had been bowled over by locals' response.
He said: 'It's been fantastic. It struck a chord because the economic news is so bad. It was so spontaneous.
'It was an amazing local event and Emsworth really got behind it.
'We have got a close connection with the military. It's a way for local people to have a voice and tell the military we are grateful for what they do.
'They are very good reasons for Emsworth to carry on doing it.'
The event this year, mainly through street collections, raised £2,500 for Help For Heroes – a charity that helps wounded soldiers, many of whom have lost limbs. Some of the cash will also go to the Army Benevolent Fund.
The winner of the shop window competition was Grate Fyres, of High Street, which impressed people with its fire-breathing dragon.
The St George's celebrations next year could be even bigger, said Mr Gibb-Gray.
This year the ceremony commemorated the Battle of the Imjin River, 58 years ago to the day, when hundreds of servicemen lost their lives during the Korean War.
Many Korean war veterans turned up on the day and were given the ceremonial Imjin flower.
Next year Emsworth hopes to invite Gurkhas, Nepalese soldiers who have been fighting for Britain for almost 200 years.
'There are quite a few in the Portsmouth area,' said Mr Gibb-Gray. 'We would like to show them our appreciation. A lot of people feel they are not getting a good deal from the government.'
GURKHAS' HISTORY'Better to die than be a coward' is the motto of the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers.
After suffering heavy casualties in the invasion of Nepal, the British East India Company signed a hasty peace deal in 1815, which also allowed it to recruit from the ranks of the former enemy.
Historically, they received a much smaller pension – at least six times less – than British soldiers, on the grounds that the cost of living is lower in Nepal.
Last week the soldiers won a victory when the government's plan to restrict Gurkhas' rights to settle here was outvoted.
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