On Friday 22nd November, crowds gathered in the Market Place for the official start of the Christmas season and the switching on of Frome’s Christmas lights. Musical entertainment from Frome Town Band and Frome Community Choir, Andrew Bourn and The Enrichments was followed by the eighth annual ‘Light the Night’ lantern parade. Hundreds of beautiful willow and paper lanterns including toadstools, hedgehogs, snails and other designs inspired by the winter woodland theme made their way from St John’s Church to the Market Place, led by rousing sounds from Jamma de Samba. Town centre eateries opened late offering festive refreshments, and a pop-up food court in the Westway precinct added Greek wraps, churros, vegan nachos, burgers and mulled wine to the mix.
Artists Mel Day and Aliss Vaas first worked with Frome Town Council on a lantern parade for the Christmas celebration in 2017 and the parade has grown year on year, even going ahead during the pandemic, when the in-person event became a lantern trail, with lanterns on display in Frome’s windows around town. Aliss and Mel said “The Frome Christmas light switch on is our favourite event of the year. The glow from all your beautiful lanterns will see us through the winter. Thank you all for taking part!”
In another Frome Christmas tradition, Frome’s Mayor Cllr Andy Jones was joined on the balcony of The George Hotel by Father Christmas, and as usual invited a special guest to join him in switching on the Christmas tree lights. This year, it was Frida Scott, a Year 4 pupil from St John’s First School, winner of the Mayor’s Christmas card competition for 2024. Andy Jones said:
“Huge thanks to Mel and Aliss, to the musicians and Amirah the stilt walker, the team at FTC, the local businesses involved and of course to everyone who took part in the parade or cheered it on. We hope you had a wonderful night and we wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year from all of us at the council.”
Fair Frome and the Frome Christmas Get Together’s collection at the event raised £960. Lenka Grimes of Fair Frome said “What an amazing event! Thanks so much to everyone who donated. Half the money raised on the night will go towards The Frome Christmas Get Together, offering good company, good food and Christmas cheer in three locations, plus a home delivery option. The other half will help Fair Frome meet the increased demand on the food bank this Christmas for food, clothing and furniture – and to provide Christmas treats for those who might otherwise miss out. If you didn’t have a chance to donate on the night, there’s still time – please visit https://localgiving.org/charity/fairfrome/and give whatever you can.”
Meanwhile, at cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY), Santa’s grotto raised £460, with many of the youngsters at the event sharing their Christmas wish.
Find out more about Frome Light the Night and artists Aliss Vaas and Mel Day at https://www.fromelanterns.co.uk/
