This year’s Christmas Lights Switch on will take place on Friday 30th November from 5.00pm-7.30pm in the Market Place and once again, the Jamma de Samba will lead a community lantern parade from St John’s Church.
The town lights will be switched on from The George balcony by the mayor Richard Ackroyd and local charity fundraiser Rachel Clarke.
Community remains the theme of the event as Selwood Choir will kick off the entertainment at 5.10pm and they will be followed by Rock Choir at 5.30pm – with their traditional and not so traditional take on festive songs. Rare Species will then warm up the crowd by helping you reclaim your Mojo with Mojo Moves before the lantern parade which begins at 6.15. The lantern parade will process in one direction this year, meeting at St John’s School with the aim of getting all of the lanterns into the town centre.
Mel Day and Aliss Vaas from Night the Light have worked tirelessly this year with the community, making lanterns in a series of school and community workshops. The workshops had been chosen by the people of Frome as an event that they wanted to see happen and organisers say it has had a fantastic response – and there is still time to make a lantern and join in. The final workshops will be on the 22nd, Sunday 25th and Monday the 26th at the Welshmill Hub.
As the lantern parade arrives, Frome Town Band and Songbirds will lead the carols, and the other choirs and the town will be invited to join in.
Following the carols, the Christmas lights will be turned on from the balcony by the mayor, cllr Richard Ackroyd and Rachel Clarke, who led the successful world record breaking attempt for the most number of rowers rowing 500 metres in 24 hours. Rachel used the world record breaking attempt to raise money for Frome charity WHY.
As in previous years, the The George Hotel and Café Number 5 will be hosting the event again this year: Mayor Richard Ackroyd said, “We are so very lucky that The George are so community-minded and are happy to host the switch-on from the balcony. It just wouldn’t be the same without it. I am really looking forward to it and to sharing the balcony with our Frome World Record Breaker.”
Song sheets will be available on the night but if you want to prepared, the carols chosen this year will be: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Once in Royal David’s City, Away in a Manager, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town and the words are available on Frome Town Council’s website. There will also be food stalls, face painters and children’s rides at the event and a bucket collection by Fair Frome, to support Frome’s Big Christmas Get Together.
And if you have a great idea for a community event like Mel and Aliss and would like to apply for The People’s Budget, contact events funding by email info@frometowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01373 465757.
