The festive season has begun this year, as the city’s Christmas lights were switched on. Laura Wright went to the event to find out just what makes Lincoln sparkle.
Christmas officially started in the city of Lincoln on Thursday 17thNovember, when the Christmas lights were switched on by comedy duo Cannon and Ball.Starting at 6 o’clock at St. Mark’s shopping centre, the festivities -including a local live band and a dance performance by college students dressed as elves, definitely started to get people into the Christmas spirit.
As the crowds made their way over to the High Street, the bright glowing lights which had already made an appearance down the streets sparkled in the winter night’s sky.
Starting outside Lloyds TSB bank and working their way up the hill past theWaterside Shopping Centre, people closely gathered around with their warm Christmas drinks, eagerly awaiting the switch on.
After a few festive songs, a crowd warm up by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Rod Whiting and a parade from the Mayor of Lincoln and the civic party, Cannon and Ball finally arrived to brighten up the city.
When the count-down hit one, they flicked the switch and the colourful, twinkling lights lit up the sky and a loud cheer from the crowd echoed around the street –as the Christmas season began.
The crowd then separated and went off into different directions, some heading straight into the Waterside, where Cannon and Ball were waiting to sign autographs, some took their children over to see special guest ‘Pudsey the Bear’ and others made a start on their Christmas shopping-as like every other Thursday night in Lincoln, many stores stayed open for trading up until 9pm.
It was certainly a festive, pretty way to bring the people of Lincoln together, to mark the start of the Christmas season.