Thousands enjoy an evening of entertainment at Shrewsbury Christmas lights switch-on
Thousands of people enjoyed an evening of entertainment at the Shrewsbury Christmas lights switch-on yesterday.
Music groups, soloists, choirs and dancers performed at various venues across the town centre.
In the Square the voices of 75 members of the Rock Choir sang a selection of songs to entertain the hundreds of people that had assembled.
A traditional lantern parade led by Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Ioan Jones, set off from the Darwin Shopping Centre before making its way to the Square for the official lights switch on at 6.30pm which was compered by Eric Smith from BBC Radio Shropshire.
This year the honour of switching the lights on was performed jointly by the Mayor and Lucy Price who won a competition after creating a robin lantern, in memory of her grandma.
The celebrations then continued with the Cannock Pipe band.
Shoppers also enjoyed performances by Stiperstones Band in St Mary’s Church and St Chad’s Choir at St Alkmund’s Church. In the Darwin Centre band Bluzone and the choir Of One Accord entertained. The Pride Hill Centre hosted Halfway House ladies choir followed by Roam Dance School. Shrewsbury Market Hall welcomed acoustic duo Redkix and singer Sonya Smith who also performed at Stop Café followed by acoustic four-piece Almost Bluegrass.
Kirsten Henly, Shrewsbury BID Executive Director added: “Shrewsbury’s businesses and community worked hard to make last night’s event special and it was a huge success and a great start to the festive period in Shrewsbury.”
Darwin and Pride Hill Shopping Centre’s Manager, Kevin Lockwood, added: “We estimate around 4,000 people enjoyed the event. Strong Christmas trade is very important to local retailers and we are delighted that so many local people came to support the event.”
Hundreds of children also visited the popular Rotary Club of Shrewsbury Severn Santa Sleigh at the top of Pride Hill over a busy period of nearly four hours.
From 4.30pm onwards, parents and children had formed a continuous queue well down Pride Hill for an opportunity to visit Santa on the sleigh and have their photos taken.
“Santa continues to attract large numbers of children, some of whom bring their written list of Christmas present requests,” said the club’s spokesperson Peter Love. “And one person specially bought a mince pie for Santa which he thoroughly enjoyed afterwards.
“The switch on of the lights is a special occasion which Rotary thoroughly enjoys and feels a strong part of, particularly as it continues to attract more and more families.”
The Rotary Club was collecting for Rotary and local charities and the Santa Sleigh programme continues over the next few weeks.
Shrewsbury's Christmas lights switch-on was sponsored by Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID), Shrewsbury Town Council, Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Shopping Centres and Redrow Homes.
