ILMINSTER, Somerset's Christmas festival lights switch on event is right around the corner, coming in hot on Friday, November 22 in Ilminster Town Centre.

Best Dressed Window Competition

As we near the event, shopkeepers have already turned their minds to the Best Dressed "Window Competition, which this year carries the theme of “A Christmas card”.

This competition will be judged before switch on night and the results will be released on the night.

Festivities taking place on the day/night

The day itself starts around lunchtime, which is when five local schools from South Petherton, Herne View Ilminster, Hambridge, Ilton and Shepton Beauchamp and Neroche will be performing in the Market Square throughout the afternoon.

People are invited to come along and support the children, while refreshments will be available to purchase in aid of the Lights throughout the day.

From 4pm the town centre will shut to traffic and people can enjoy a variety of food and drinks, both from local shops and from mobile traders coming to town just for the light festival.

Many of the town shops will also remain open into the evening for late night Christmas shopping.

Alongside this shopping a Christmas fayre is being held in the Isle Youth Centre which will bring some different crafts and gifts for people to enjoy. This will run from 3:30pm-8pm.

From the time the roads close, music and entertainment will start on the stage in the Square, which will include live singers, a bouncy castle, kids rides and a festive puppet show.

Prior to the switch on around 6:20, a parade will make its way through town, Along Silver Street, through the Market Square and up east Street.

The parade will consist of Ilminster Diamond Majorettes, Ilminster Icons & Ilminster Illuminations. This will be alongside a Lantern parade, the town crier and of course Father Christmas in his Sleigh.

Ilminster Warehouse Theatre Panto Cast will be out dressed up amongst the parade promoting their Panto and collecting for both the Theatre & Christmas lights along the way.

The Switch on will take place on the stage, where the DJ Ginge the MC, will be joined by members of the Christmas Lights Committee (the team of volunteers who erected and maintained the lights) who this year have been given the role of pressing the all-important plunger to illuminate the town, as a thank you for their many years of hard work and dedication (some members have been helping for 40 years).

More live music will follow the switch on, and people are encouraged to stay and continue to enjoy what’s on offer in the town centre.

The light's themselves this year include improvements to the triangle display as well as other garlands throughout the town.

Over 90 Christmas trees have been dressed and erected on every building in Ilminster town centre over the November and October weeks by the lighting team - including some that are over 20feet tall.

Road closures

Road closures for East Street, Love Lane, Frog Lane, North Street, Ile Court and Silver Street will all be in place during the event.

A spokesperson for Ilminster Council said: "There will be no vehicle movements during those times with the exception of emergency vehicles. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause."

Anyone interested in supporting the event or the lights in any way, please get in touch via:

ilminsterchristmaslights@gmail.com

 

Quotes from the organisers

The event is organised by Ilminster Chamber of Commerce & Ilminster Christmas Lights with the support of the Town Council.

Matt Sainsbury from the lights committee said: “We are keen for switch on the lights once again and it’s all systems go behind the scenes to get everything in place. Time goes so quick before the event, but we are in a good place at the moment, with most of the work remaining being trees and timers.”

DJ Ginge who is hosting the event said: “It my favourite part of the year, it’s great to see so many people in the town enjoying the event and the lights themselves, Hopefully the roads closing a little earlier will encourage people to spend longer in the town in the lead up to 7pm. I would encourage people to come and watched the schools sing, this is special every year and you can really see the joy on the children’s faces.”