07/11/2017
Burnley town centre is all set for an amazing two-day festival to celebrate the annual Christmas lights switch on and the start of the festive season.
The festivities start on Saturday 18th November from 10am with an amazing ice sculpture trail through the town centre.
The ice sculpture spectacular was hugely popular last year and is returning with a festive family focus. There will be a number of impressive festive sculptures around the town centre and visitors are invited to follow the trail to help the shy Little Nutcracker build up courage to bang his drum. Visitors taking part in the trail will be able to enter into a free prize draw to win a voucher to spend in the town centre.
The highlight will be a live ice carve of the Little Nutcracker in the Market Square throughout the day.
As the sun goes down the town centre will get ready for a magical light parade. Starting at 4pm, Creative Alliance Artists, Burnley Youth Theatre and members of the “Lantern Squad” who made their own lanterns during the half term holiday, will parade through the town centre along St James’ Street and Curzon Street towards The Mall (by Clintons Cards). Accompanied by music and all lit up with amazing magical creations, this will be an incredible spectacle. The parade should reach The Mall by 5pm where there will be more music and celebration.
On Sunday 19th the town centre will be filled with festive music and performances from noon, including brass bands, steel pans, Burnley Youth Theatre performances and more. The stage for the youth theatre and festive Switch On Show will be supplied by local transport company Fagan & Whalley.
Visitors will also be enchanted by the majestic Snow Lion and the White Queen – to be seen to be believed!
From 4.30pm there will be an all-singing, all-dancing, amazing, festive Switch On Show by local business It’s My Party, leading to the Burnley Christmas lights switch on and a fantastic fireworks display.
A Christmas market will be held in Market Square on both days and on the 7th, 14th and 21st December, staying open for late night shopping.
It all adds up to a brilliant weekend of festive family fun!
Burnley town centre will be full of Christmas spirit during the festive period. Charter Walk shopping centre will have festive entertainment and attractions every Saturday in December, an amazing Reindeer parade will be held on Sunday 26th November, and there will be late night shopping on Thursdays throughout December.
All council car parks will be free from 5pm on late night shopping Thursdays from 23rd November up to Christmas, and are also free every Sunday.
Councillor Lian Pate, executive member for community services, said: “There’s lots of great reasons to get ready for Christmas in Burnley town centre.”
