
Thousands of local residents gathered at the weekend to celebrate the start of the festive season with Frome’s annual Christmas Lights switch on.
The night saw the whole community gathered together to watch the Mayor, cllr Richard Ackroyd and his special guests, fundraising stars Rachel Clark and Lisa Wells, push the plunger to light up the town’s Christmas tree.
The area around the Boyle Cross hosted a variety of performers starting with children from Selwood Academy getting bystanders in the Christmas spirit, followed by Rock Choir’s festive set and then Rare Species made sure everyone was moving and laughing with Mojo Moves.
Then it was time for the magical lantern parade led from St John’s Church to the centre of town by the lively Jamma de Samba. The lanterns, ranging from angels and stars to Santa’s sleigh and Rudolph himself, had been organised thanks to Mel Day and Aliss Vaas from Night the Light, supported by Frome Town Council, hosting free community workshops over the last few months.
Frome Town Band and songbirds brought a more traditional element to the event and the parade then took a turn through the town before meeting the Frome Town Bandits at the library, ready to lead everybody through to the Cheese and Grain. Mayor Rich Ackroyd who was master of ceremonies for the evening and who is not normally lost for words said, “What a terrific event. The lantern parade genuinely took my breath away – what a sight!”
Organisers said, “A big thanks to everyone who came, particularly the performers, who all made the evening a success and donated to Frome’s Big Christmas Get Together.”
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