Ipswich’s Christmas lights switch on takes place this Thursday – and this year it will be twice the fun.
For the first time for six years, a real tree takes pride of place on the Cornhill but fans of the ‘bauble tree’ can see it in all its splendour on the Waterfront outside the University of Suffolk.
The town centre lights will be switched on at 6.55pm but the fun starts at 4.30pm with a succession of singers and other entertainers, including stars of the Regent pantomime, Jack & The Beanstalk, and Pop Chorus’s first public performance of their charity CD. There will also be snow … lots of snow!
Turning on the lights will be a generational affair – with the Mayor of Ipswich, Sarah Barber, being joined on the Town Hall balcony by 91 year-old John Morley, who abseiled down the Ipswich Hospital’s tallest building in the summer for St Elizabeth Hospice, and the Mayor’s nephew, four year-old Olen.
The Mayor said: “I am looking forward to this immensely, particularly as John says he will be in his Spiderman costume again but I hope he resists the temptation to abseil down the Town Hall!”
The Waterfront tree’s lights will come on automatically at around the same time – Ipswich’s elves will be even busier than usual. The Cornhill tree has been provided by town centre management company Ipswich Central.
Many of the town centre shops will stay open later to mark the start of the county town’s festive season. Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council have funded extra park and ride buses on Sundays and Thursdays in the run-up to Christmas.
Issued by the IBC press office, tel: 07736 826104
