Frome Christmas Light Switch On – 2nd December 5pm onwards
“This year’s Christmas lights switch on will be a slightly different affair. In previous years the Town Council has run an event that has been part community celebration part promotion of town centre businesses. The fact is that the two didn’t mix brilliantly. The year we had Jenson drive his F1 car around the streets of Frome was fantastic but we couldn’t repeat that year on year. We’ve listened to the feedback and we’ve taken the decision to have a family focused festive celebration in December to mark the switching on of the Christmas lights”– Toby Eliot, Town Mayor 2016.
With that in mind things are much more simple this year. Activity will commence in the Market Place at 5pm where there will be a number of food stalls selling locally sourced festive food, posh hot dogs, Christmas dinner, hot chocolate and delicious mulled drinks.
There will be performances from children’s favourite ‘Rocktopus’ at 5.30pm, and there will also be free children’s craft activities, a bouldering hut and some paid for craft activities which will help raise money for local charities.
At 6:15pm we hope crowds will gather around the Christmas tree, a candlelit procession will come down Bath Street towards the Christmas tree, where we will all join in and sing Christmas carols.
We encourage people to bring down their own lanterns for the evening, and light them when the candlelight procession arrives at the Christmas tree. Event Organiser Faye Penfold says “We suggest to people that they could light the lanterns using electric tea lights, just to make things super safe for all the children that will be at the event. The tree lights will be switched on at 6:45pm this year, so that people with young families can share the event with us. After the lights are switched on, Frome businesses will stay open so that people can start their Christmas shopping. It’s set to be a magical night to remember.”
