Sunday 27th marked the official start of the festive season in Lancaster city centre with the Lancaster BID Christmas Lights Switch On. Falling on Lancashire Day, the main stage was hosted by Beyond Radio and was used to showcase local talent including recent star of The Voice – Olivia-Mae Mulqueeney, The Fourth Colour, The Howling Clowns and the fantastic Lancashire Hotpots as headliners.
The line-up proved popular and certainly drew the crowds into Lancaster city centre. Footfall counters, which have been monitoring footfall in the city centre since 2015, showed this year to be the busiest Christmas Lights Switch On ever in Lancaster city centre. At the time the lights were switched on, footfall was an amazing 69.8% higher than last year and 14% higher than the previous best year in 2015.
The crowds filled Market Square and overflowed down Market Street almost down to Horseshoe Corner. The atmosphere was fantastic as people sang along to the festive songs and joined in with their favourite Lancashire Hotpots hits.
Lancaster BID Manager, Tony Johnson, said “We were delighted to use this opportunity to showcase some amazing local talent. After the last few years, it was fantastic to see so many people back out in Lancaster city centre. With the festive season now officially underway, we want to encourage everyone to continue supporting our local businesses. Don’t forget to Love Local, Love Lancaster this Christmas.”
There is still plenty for the whole family to do in Lancaster city centre in the run up to Christmas. Next Sunday – 4th December – sees the popular Cairngorm reindeer in St Nic’s Arcades for Reindeer Day. You can also follow the Reindeer Trail searching for 12 reindeer hidden in the windows of businesses throughout the city centre – each beautifully decorated by children from local primary schools.
Lancaster On Ice has also returned and is open through until January 8th transforming Dalton Square into a magical winter wonderland. There is a choice of family shows with a traditional Cinderella pantomime at The Grand and The Dukes offering Robin Hood for their annual festive family treat.
The wealth of independent businesses makes Lancaster city centre the ideal place to find something unique to complete your Christmas shopping. To make it even easier to support your local city centre, many shops will be opening late on Thursday evenings in December and throughout Christmas week. Free parking is available on all Lancaster City Council car parks all day Sunday and Thursday evenings from 5.00pm until Christmas.
Come and enjoy the festive spirit in Lancaster and remember to support local businesses this Christmas.
