Wrexham’s Christmas Lights Switched On

With less than a month to go until the big day – Christmas has officially arrived in Wrexham Town Centre, with hundreds turning to take part in this year’s festive light switch on.

Despite limited promotion prior to the event, there was a good turn out to the community event, which included Father Christmas on a sleigh drawn by real reindeer, and a lantern parade of light following behind.

Over the past three weeks there have been a series of lantern workshops at the Peoples Market and UnDegUn where could drop in and create their own lanterns to feature in the event. We’ve been told by one organiser that the sessions went really well!

The festive celebrations began with a lantern parade (headed up by non other than Father Christmas and his reindeer!) which looped through the town centre starting in Lambpit Street down Chester Street, High Street, Hope Street, under the Argyle Arch and back to Queens Square.

The parade could be heard across the town centre, with hundreds taking part carrying their lanterns and banging drums!

After the parade crowds gathered on Queens Square to take part in some festive carol singing around the newly lit town centre Christmas Tree.

Some have jokingly described the pure white lights as ‘festive barbed wire’, but there are a range of lights and decorations on display including these brighter options!

Although a large crowd made the effort to get in to town many retailers failed to capitalise on the opportunity with a noticeable number closed. Cafe Nero is usually queued out of the door at the Lights event, however did not seem as busy as usual. Hoffi Koffee made the effort to open, and although was not packed out, was taking the chance to offer samples to the crowds nearby to spread the word of their offerings.

Some shops on Eagles Meadow offered later night shopping, and appeared to be capitalising on the extra footfall while other sections of the town centre missed the chance.

For those wondering which celebrity ‘pushed the button’, it was this bloke and his colleagues turning the switches on throughout the evening: