NEWBURY Town Council is gearing up for the Christmas Lights switch-on on Friday (November 27).
The Christmas tree (pictured above), which has come from town councillor Joan Day’s garden, is now in the Market Place and the Christmas art competition winners, who will help Newbury’s mayor Kuldip Singh Kang switch on the town’s lights, have now been chosen.
They are Jonathan Pannett-Smith in the under 5’s age group, Hannah Gibson in the five to seven-year-old age group and Abby McDevitt in the eight to 12-year-old category.
These children will help with the switch-on instead of a celebrity, as in previous years when such stars as Theo Walcott, Graeme Murty and Matt Bardock have switched on the town’s lights.
Meanwhile, carols will be performed by Watership Brass Band and Father Christmas’ procession along Northbrook Street to the Market Place will leave Newbury Methodist Church at 4.30pm.
The procession will be led by the town crier, three stilt walkers and a group of children from the Dragon Club at Speenhamland School and Father Christmas will be accompanied in his sleigh by the three art competition winners, along with Newbury’s carnival queen, Jenny Moorcroft and her attendant, Ellie Bridger-Wilkinson.
The switch-on of the lights, provided by Millenium Quest and funded by the town council, will then take place at about 5pm.
However, unlike in previous years, the event will not move on to the Wharf and Victoria Park, but will remain in the Market Place with a chance to see two of Father Christmas’ reindeer and an hour-long performance from live band, ‘From Dusk ‘til Dawn’.
And town council leader, Ifor Sheldon (Lib Dem, Victoria) is urging people to come to the event.
He said: “Newbury Town Council know that the Christmas Lights give enjoyment to lots of people and that they are a key part of the festive period in the town.
“Newbury is a tremendous town with so much to offer at Christmas-time, so do come to the big switch-on, support our partners, enjoy the lights with your friends and make a great night of it.”
Road closures will be in place during the event. Northbrook Street (between West Street and Bridge Street), Bridge Street, Mansion House Street, Market Place, Wharf Street (from the rising bollards to the Market Place) and Bartholomew Street (from Market Street to Bridge Street) will all be closed from 4pm until 8pm on Friday, November 27 for the lights switch on.
However, Bartholomew Street will re-open as soon as the parade is in Market Place to allow a northbound flow into Northbrook Street only (Market Place will remain closed).
And as the town gears up for Christmas newburytoday went out to see how many residents had started their festive shopping duties.
Although most people didn't appear to have started yet, some had almost finished all their Christmas shopping before the start of December.
But the mood was still pessimistic when people spoke about the effect the recession would have on this year's festivities.
Click on the 'view video' link above to hear more, or click onto our forum to have your say.