Folkestone Town Mayor, Cllr Nicola Keen (centre) joins the Lights Switch On crew Photo: Ray Duff…
Words and pictures by Ray Duff… Folkestone town centre was thronged last Saturday by thousands of people attending the annual Christmas lights-switch on.
At 3.30pm the show began at the stage, which this year was placed in the middle of the precinct area facing the Town Hall.
A series of musical, comedy and dance routines were performed by initially local Primary schools; including from Studio Six, Chloe Scott’s Dance for Fun Group, Pikachu & Dragon; followed by the Folkestone Academy students band, fun family competitions and all intersperced by appearances by Bodger the badger and the Academy FM ‘fox’ alongside their music station.
Later in the afternoon, Father Christmas, left from near the Clifton Hotel, for the annual sleigh ride and lantern parade down the Leas to arrive at the performance area, accompanied also by ‘Santasaurus and Dino- babies from Rentadinosaur, to arrive to a warm welcome by the crowds.
After further performances, Folkestone Town Mayor, Cllr Nicola Keen, was joined by cast members of the Leas Cliff Hall panto ‘Aladdin’, Bodger the badger, and Academy ‘fox’ to lead the countdown to the main lights switch on at 7pm.
Many people then proceeded to the Harbour area to await the spectacular fireworks display, the location of which had been kept secret, but turned out to be launched from high on East Cliff over the Sunny sands area.
