THE festivities reached fever pitch on Saturday when Father Christmas switched on the lights in Town.
People were lining the barriers in Church Square by 4pm in readiness for the big event.
Festive Decor chairman Martine Ellis thanked everybody who had contributed to the £33,000 that had been raised to ensure a display for this season.
‘Given the current financial climate we were very nervous, but the people of Guernsey have done us proud by putting their hands in their pockets again,’ she said.
New lights have been fitted in various parts of Town, including around the Markets and Mill Street and a new canopy adorns Church Square.
Blue flashing lights and a siren preceded Father Christmas’s arrival in a fire engine at the former brewery at Les Echelons, where hundreds of people were waiting to meet him.
‘It’s wonderful to be back in Guernsey and great that it’s dry because my beard was soaked with all the rain last year,’ he said.
Father Christmas led a procession along the South Esplanade that included Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland and characters from the Mad Hatter’s tea party plus Shrek, Donkey, Princess Fiona, The Snowman and Puss in Boots.
The crowd in Church Square enjoyed entertainment including a performance by the Guernsey Rock Gospel Choir while waiting for Father Christmas to arrive.
Theresa Robilliard said she comes to the event every year.
‘I’ve got a son who’s 15 and we used to bring him,’ she said. ‘The children love it.’
Daughters Chloe, 6, and Kirsty, 3, had letters that they planned to give to Santa. Chloe hopes to get a Baby Born doll on the big day.
Fernanda Correia and daughters Elizabeth, 7, and Laura, 4, also secured their place early on the Church Square barriers. ‘The children enjoy it so much,’ said Ms Correia.
Elizabeth hoped to get an iPod and a mobile phone for Christmas.
She and her sister also had wish lists for Father Christmas.
Mrs Ellis said that between £30,000 and £35,000 was needed each season to ensure a display of lights and this year’s total benefited had from a £10,000 donation from Generali.
She added that the Young Business Group had done an amazing job of organising the big switch-on.
Article posted on 1st December, 2008 - 2.29pm
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