Newbury & Thatcham Advertiser 26/11/21

4

Friday, November 26, 2021

Newbury & Thatcham Advertiser

NEWS

Christmas lights up the town Thousands flock into Newbury for start of festive season

By HINNA AAMANI hinna.aamani@newburynews.co.uk @hinnaa_nwn

Mayor Billy Drummond led the celebrations

THINGS are looking mer- ry and bright this season as the Newbury Christ- mas lights switch-on kicked off the festivities. Newbury BID (Business Improvement District) put on a non-stop show from 10am until 9pm on Saturday, with thousands of people popping into town to get in on the festive cheer. From pop-up choirs to art workshops, the town was packed out with entertain- ment. Santa’s grotto was open in Parkway, while Disney prin- cesses graced the grounds of Barry Forkin-Toomers in Bartholomew Street – even the Grinch came along. And stiltwalking candy canes took to the streets, handing out sweets to boys and girls, while the Ken- net Shopping centre held a teddy bear hunt, colouring competition and a make- your-own Christmas card activity. Newbury BID chief exec- utive Melissa Hughes said: “It’s so nice to see so many families out enjoying them- selves and having a great time. “We know it was really hard having [last] Christ- mas with so much being cancelled and we wanted to make sure that we gave people the opportunity to celebrate this year, to come into Newbury and be enter-

Thousands of people attended the Christmas lights switch-on in Newbury

with Disney hits, before wel- coming Santa himself and Newburymayor Billy Drum- mond to the stage. And then the countdown began to the lights switch- on itself. Performer Michaela Hef- fer said: “Being able to get together with everybody and seeing all the work that’s been put into it, just to go back out and entertain everyone with fellow enter- tainers, it felt really great.” Volunteer Valarie Jerome said: “This is a real boost for local businesses and residents alike. Kids like it, adults like it; it’s been a lot of fun today. “To not have that last year really put a damper on everything so this has really raised the mood of every- body.”

tained. “There’s plenty of space for people; it’s a great at- mosphere out there today.” She added that she had been out with the mirror men and the candy cane stilt walkers. “Everyone just wants their photo taken with them. It’s such a great at- traction and because we didn’t announce that they were going to be around people have just stumbled across them which is nice because it’s added that sur- prise factor,” she said. As the sun set, the Market Place was transformed into a magical market where vis- itors could have a go on the Christmassy carousel, grab a warm bite to eat from the food stalls and buy light-up toys for the big switch-on

finale. Volunteer Eddie Webb from Newbury Rotary Club said: “We are helping out the BID and Visit Newbury which we are pleased to do. “It feels really good to be out again, which so many of us haven’t done toomuch for the last year. It’s great to be out. “It seems to be going real- ly well, there has been lots of people here, lots of fami- lies all having a nice time.” The evening saw a varie- ty of musical entertainers from Newbury’s teen pop soloist Olivia McBeth, who kicked off the fun with an Amy Winehouse classic, to covers band Juliette Duo. The star sisters Queen Elsa and Princess Ana paid a visit all the way fromAren- delle to entertain children

Joseph and Teddie Morley meet Father Christmas in Parkway

Sofia decorates cookies at the Wa- terside Centre

Harmony Acapella Choir in Bartholomew Street

A family run business since 1902

fuels

The crowd gathers in the town centre

The Grinch and princess at Barry Forkin-Toomers

There was plen- ty of entertain- ment in the town centre as the Christ- mas lights were switched on

FUELADDITIVE FORAGASAND BOILERS – HELPS IMPROVE SYSTEM EFFICIENCY 01635 253 253 www.marshfuels.co.uk H C Marsh (Newbury) Ltd Ball Hill,Newbury, Berkshire. RG20 0PW