Hundreds of residents gathered in the centre of Frome to welcome in the start of the festive season with the eighth annual Light the Night lantern parade and Christmas lights switch on, held on Friday 22nd November.
Musical entertainment was provided by Frome Town Band and Frome Community Choir, alongside former Britain’s Got Talent finalist Andrew Bourn, who led a singalong of festive songs from the balcony of the George Hotel with the mayor of Frome, Cllr Andy Jones, and Father Christmas.
A performance followed by Frome-based covers band The Enrichments before local samba band Jamma de Samba led a spectacular lantern procession down Bath Street.
Toadstools, hedgehogs, reindeer, snails and other designs themed on a winter woodland illuminated the Market Place as the mayor led a countdown to Christmas. The winner of this year’s mayor’s Christmas card competition, Frida Scott, a Year 4 pupil from St John’s First School, switched the lights on from the George Hotel balcony.
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. A stilt walker dressed in gold also roamed the crowd taking photos with residents.
Cllr Andy Jones said, “Huge thanks to Mel and Aliss, to the musicians and Amirah the stilt walker, the team at Frome Town Council, 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.”
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!”
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 is still time by visiting https://localgiving.org/charity/fairfrome/.
Find out more about Frome Light the Night and artists Aliss Vaas and Mel Day at https://www.fromelanterns.co.uk/
