Families gathered in their thousands this weekend as Colne celebrated the switching on of its Christmas lights.
This year’s edition of the event was one of the busiest the town has experienced and featured Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Royle and Coronation Street actor Andy Whyment.
People from the town were able to enjoy a family-friendly day of activities including brass band performances, a giant snow globe, a rodeo reindeer, Santa’s grotto funfair rides, stilt walkers, and more.
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The main stage line-up saw a variety of entertainment including live music from Tom Scothern and Sophie Stott, dance performances from Encore Dance School, theatre productions from Stage Door Youth Theatre, comedy magic from Taz Entertainment, sing-a-long performances with The Greatest Showman, and the finale featuring Helen Green Academy of Dance.
The event also saw the return of the torchlit procession, led by Santa in his sleigh, for the first stage of the lights switch-on along Albert Road and Church Street.
Families gathered to take part in the parade lighting up the high street before heading to the stage for the remainder of the evening.
The Fun House (formerly Earnies) was transformed into a Christmas market with more than 50 stalls, festive decorations, and free face painting.
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Whyment, Royle, Santa and his elf, the Mayor and Mayoress of Pendle and representatives from the event’s sponsors took to the stage in the evening to push down the plunger, turning on the lights and starting the fireworks finale.
Councillor Mary Thomas, chairperson of Colne Town Council, said: “Colne Christmas light switch-on 2023 was amazing, bringing people out in their thousands to enjoy the festivities here in Colne. It was brilliant to bring the whole community together and it is definitely an event we will remember for a long time.”
Nathan Cutler, the town council’s event officer, added: “We really wanted to push the boat out this year to make sure we put Colne on the map. Going bigger and better than previous years, we worked incredibly hard to put on an event which everyone would enjoy.”
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