Let there be lights

There’s a host of events taking place across the county with celebrities, up and coming singers and local dignitaries getting together for the switch ons.

Next Saturday Preston will be lit up at a special event on the Flag Market, organised by the Preston Business Improvement District.

The Christmas programme kicks-off at 5.30pm presented by Glen & Lorna from Real Radio’s flagship Breakfast Show and will include a line-up of 15 artists, including Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi, the Feeling frontman Dan Gillespie Sells and the Luminites, culminating with the switch being flicked around 7.30pm.

There’s free parking in the city’s Bus Station car park from noon.

The Christmas lights in Chorley will be turned on at the same day by Coronation Street favourite, Sam Aston who has played the lovable red-haired Chesney Brown for more than 10 years.

The event will start at 3.30pm with a meet and greet with some of the best loved children’s television characters including Father Christmas himself and his loyal reindeer, Rudolf.

It will be hosted by Rock FM this year and their resident drive-time DJ, Matt Spokes will compere the event.

There will be performances from some up-and-coming bands including Reconnected, who have recently had two top 40 hits; five-piece female harmony group, Be Minor and Bolton songstress Redd, who has had number one singles across the globe and performed duets with the likes of Akon and Pitbull.

Later in the month Coronation Street star and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Bruce Jones will kickstart the festive season in Ormskirk.

The lights in the town will be switched on on Friday, 
November 29

The Mayor of West Lancashire, Coun Iain Ashcroft, will give a Christmas address as part of the Carol Service which starts at 6pm, conducted by the Rev Chris Jones and fellow clergy colleagues with music accompaniment by Friends in Unison and Skelmersdale Prize Brass Band. Then Coun Ashcroft and Bruce will turn the market town into a blaze of colour as the Christmas illuminations bring sparkle to the town centre when they are switched on at 6.30pm.

After the switch on, Santa’s Showtime will continue the Christmas atmosphere with an entertaining show and finale.

On Sunday, November 24 the Lancaster Christmas lights switch on event will be held.

It will be hosted by presenters from The Bay radio station.

The line-up will feature Lancaster’s very own X Factor 2013 contestant Paul Akister and Jo, Paul and Bradley from S Club will be on stage to officially switch on this year’s Christmas Lights in Lancaster!

The Bay stage will be live from 3pm in the centre.

On November 30 a Christmas in Leyland event will take place with a host of events for all the family, including a procession and Christingle service and the lights on the tree at the United Reformed Church at 6.30pm

In Garstang the lights will be switched on on November 25 at 4.40pm at the Market Croft in the centre. School children will sing carols and the Garstang Community Academy band will play before the lights are turned on by dignitaries.

Presenters from 97.4 Rock FM will host the Christmas lights switch on and show in Blackpool on Saturday November 30.

Artists confirmed so far include Chorley’s Kevin Simm of Liberty X fame, Kitty, Giles Potter and Scott Bruton who have all had their brush with fame in the X Factor, plus The Mend, Mr Zip, Stephen Hall and Olivia Archibald who people will remember from the TV show, Britain’s Got Talent.

The fun starts at 2pm and the lights will be switched on at 4.45pm.

Lytham’s Christmas lights will be switched on tomorrow. Father Christmas will parade through the town on the RNLI float from 3.30pm before taking to the stage ahead of the 4pm switch-on.

Lytham Community Choir, members of the cast of Lowther Pavilion’s panto Mother Goose, Rainbow Dance School, vocalist Peter Anthony, Britain’s Got Talent girl band Be Minor, Blackpool Brass Band, boyband Reconnected and Preston Musical Comedy Show Choir will all be part of the entertainment line-up and a fireworks display will immediately follow the switch-on.

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