Pictures: Blackburn Christmas lights switch-on

The annual event was initially set to take place outdoors in the town centre.

On Friday the council issued a statement and said the planned outdoor activities on stage had been moved indoors, to The Mall, Blackburn Market and Blackburn Cathedral

This was due to the yellow weather warning for snow and rain, which saw Storm Bert batter the county.

Visitors were treated to a circus skills workshop and were entertained by circus stilt walkers.

Guardians of the Galaxy characters, Groot and Star Lord, even descended on the town for a meet and greet event, perfect for Marvel fans.

A festive market was visited by crowds hoping to nap a Christmas bargain, while also supporting local businesses.

A live DJ also kept people entertained in The Mall.

As part of the switch-on event, Blackburn BID also gave visitors the chance to visit the Festival of the Moon exhibition, at Blackburn Cathedral, for free. 

Gav Cross was also at the festival leading a performed retelling of H.G Wells classic, The First Men in the Moon.

The mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Brian Taylor, thanked everyone who came for braving the weather and congratulated the organisers for not letting the storm stop festivities in Blackburn.

Despite the damp weather Blackburn BID Manager, Catherine Price, said the day was “amazing” adding that town centre partners pulled together to bring a lot of the event indoors.

Catherine said she is hoping to hold a Christmas concert in the coming weeks, so the community can "showcase their talents". 

Catherine said: “Whilst it wasn’t the event we’d worked hard for months to deliver, we actually had an amazing day!

“Town centre partners all pulled together to bring as much of our activities indoors to The Mall Blackburn, Blackburn Market, and Blackburn Cathedral.  We celebrated the switching on of Blackburn’s Christmas lights and marked the start of the festive season with circus performers, circus skills workshops, performances by Pop Up Global, meet and greets with Groot and Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy, space-themed storytelling, a festive market, workshops, free access to the Museum of the Moon and a DJ.

“It was a very busy day with a fantastic atmosphere. We are working with our brilliant community performers who were due to perform as part of the outdoor stage show in the hope we can hold a Christmas concert with them in the town centre so that they can showcase their talents and their hard work won’t go to waste.”

While the Blackburn event was allowed to go ahead, other switch-on events in East Lancashire were not as fortunate.

Rawtenstall’s Christmas lights switch-on event was cancelled on Saturday night.

East 17, known for producing Christmas number one Stay Another Day in 1994, were set to headline.

Organisers said they were disappointed about the decision to cancel but said the yellow weather warning for snow and rain has “made it impossible” for the event to go ahead.

This from Mayor Brian Taylor said:? "The poor weather didn’t altogether defeat us, as we adapted and continued with as much of the original plans as possible.

"Arrangements changed and were refined throughout the day, as we tried to give a good an experience as possible to the public, despite not having an official Xmas Lights switch on! Great credit to the BID, council teams, community and voluntary groups" 

Did you attend Blackburn’s Christmas lights switch-on? Send your pictures to: sarah.mcgee@newsquest.co.uk.