Thousands enjoy sparkling and spectacular switch-on in Leicester
One minute it was a cold, crowded Town Hall Square packed with expectant adults and children.
The next, it was sparkling winter wonderland, with dazzling lights, falling snow and smiling faces.
Thousands of people were at Town Hall Square yesterday afternoon for Leicester's official Christmas light switch-on.
The massive crowd, with scores of children on the shoulders of parents, joined in the 10-second countdown as the switch was thrown.
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Adults cheered and children squealed as lights as an array of snow machines showered the scene in fake snow as the lights lit up the Clock Tower, the town hall and the Paddington Bear and Noddy tableaux.
A traditional nativity scene and a towering Christmas tree covered in tinsel, baubles and shimmering lights completed the magical picture.
Charlotte Foster, 21, of Wigston, went to the lights switch-on with her partner and baby.
She said: "It is really beautiful. Our daughter, Amelia, is only four months old, but she loves bright lights so we thought it would be great for her."
Vivienne Swatman, from Aylestone, was there with her three sons and two grandchildren. The 47-year-old said: "It is the first time I have been to the lights switch-on and I can't get over how many people are here. I think it is great.
"Everyone is in such a good mood, it's lovely."
Daniel Routledge, from Knighton, enjoyed the event, which included live music, street performers and dancers.
The 37-year-old said: "It was excellent. The council needs to be congratulated for putting on a show like that."
His six-year-old son, Mookie, said: "It was awesome. I liked the snow the best."
Nine-year-old daughter Aisling said: "I liked the dancers but I also think the snow was the best bit."
Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Abdul Osman, who flipped the switch, said: "This is a fantastic occasion for the city of Leicester."
Visitors to the city centre were also able to enjoy the attractions of a large winter food and craft market.
More than 200 stalls selling an array of food, drink and gifts were doing a roaring trade at Leicester Market.
Stall-holder Debbie Campbell, who was selling home-made cakes with the help of her 13-year-old son Gareth, was busy.
The 49-year-old, from Anstey, said: "We have done pretty well today.
"This festive market is a great idea and gets people into this end of town on a Sunday."
Husband and wife, Jason and Katherine Wale, had stumbled upon the market while waiting for the lights switch-on.
Katherine, 36, said: "We've got the two children with us and it was fun to wander round looking at all the lovely things on offer."
Jason, 29, said: "There is a lot of interesting work on sale."
Comments
by Hugo-Boss
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 6:04PM
“@spalding1944 "no celebrity then ?"
Nope, Vaz has stolen them as he usually does for the lights switch on at his community centre (named after his mother).”
by Jules281
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 3:16PM
“SO What time do the lights come on? I am in town at 15.00 Hours and still no lights on! Thank goodness for the fair ride that has lights twinkling! LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL take a leaf out of other cities they incourage visitors we just drive them away, SHAME ON YOU SPS, and the LM for making out it was Spectacluar its a shambles with only a LOCAL Councillor to swtich them on...........”
by redcat
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 2:23PM
“by spalding1944Monday, November 19 2012, 8:42PM
"redcat - no celebrity then ?, how many , if any, would know him if he walked down the street ? .
Whats muslim got to do with it ? , and Clarissa was correct"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you mean 'Whats muslim got to do with it ?', the whole point is that Clarissa said that Muslims in Leicester were living in ghettos and were not interested in integrating with the non Muslim community. The fact that our Muslim mayor was happy to switch on the Christmas lights -an important celebration for another religion- surely suggests that she was wrong.”
by Jules281
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 8:40AM
“Still not lights down Gallowtree gate this morning? Or the clock tower Christmas tree, whats going on not all people are in town at night to see these lights and it would be nice to see them on in the morning to. Shame on leicester Council or rather SPS. Where do i sign this petition?”
by spalding1944
Monday, November 19 2012, 8:42PM
“redcat - no celebrity then ?, how many , if any, would know him if he walked down the street ? .
Whats muslim got to do with it ? , and Clarissa was correct”
by democrat
Monday, November 19 2012, 8:26PM
“No Lord Mayor - the First Citizen?
I wonder why?”
by spalding1944
Monday, November 19 2012, 8:17PM
“No mention of who switched the lights on. Was it ' Radio Wadsworth ' ? or a celebrity , sorry forgot, no money for someone who might bring more people to the city”
by redcat
Monday, November 19 2012, 8:17PM
“The fact that Leicester's Christmas lights were switched on by the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Abdul Osman, a muslim, should tell us all just how wrong Clarissa Dickson Wright was about our city.”
by joe-bloggs
Monday, November 19 2012, 7:27PM
“Maybe one of sups hard desicions to save money !”
by Jules281
Monday, November 19 2012, 12:48PM
“Walking through the city this morning at 07.00am there was little sign of any lights just a couple of strands lit up, not even the tree on the clock tower had any lights on? Any reason for this or are they not being turned on in the morning?”