Lisburn lights up this Friday

LISBURN City Council will switch on its Christmas lights this Friday, November 18, in the City Centre. This community event is sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland.

Celebrating ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ as its theme, spectators will enjoy a lantern parade, spectacular carnival pieces and a host of professional performers wearing traditional and modern costumes. School children from Ballymacash Primary School, Ballymacward Primary School, Killowen Primary School, Largymore Primary School, Seymour Hill Primary School and St Kieran’s Primary are all taking part in the lantern parade.

Up to 200 local schoolchildren dressed as angels, elves, Santas, sleepy children, chimney sweeps and Victorian children, will be forming the lantern parade through the City, to get Christmas started in Lisburn.

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Speaking about this annual event, the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Brian Heading, said: “This showcase event is especially for our residents at Christmas-time, bringing them together to celebrate Christmas.

“I am looking forward to watching the magnificent parade making its way through Lisburn City Centre and I hope to see as many residents as possible in attendance.

“The Switch-On marks the start of what the Council hopes will be another busy Christmas period in the City and it hopes that everyone, participants and spectators, will enjoy the event.”

Accompanying the local schoolchildren with their handmade lanterns made in workshops held in their schools will be a toy soldier, a Victorian Queen, festive stiltwalkers and giant stars and Christmas trees. Other attractions include snowmen, a glimmer man, a gingerbread man and ‘Wee Willie Winkie’, as well as Santa Claus and his helpers who will arrive on a specially commissioned train to wish all the children a ‘Very Merry Christmas’.

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The parade route will leave Christ Church moving to Market Street, Bow Street, Market Square and Smithfield Street before making its way back to Christ Church.

Councillor Brian Heading will switch on Lisburn’s festive Christmas lights from the stage area in Market Square.

Christ the Redeemer Primary School Choir will provide choral support to the carol singing at the start of the event, which begins at 6.30pm, with the Parade taking place at approximately 6.45pm.

As usual the event is expected to be very busy, so please arrive early if you would like a good viewing position.