LGC Christmas Lights Switch-On - 20 November 2009

The Christmas lights switch-on is a major event in any town's calendar, and Letchworth Garden City has seen some great switch-ons in recent years.

This year, they are planning to make the event - which will take place on Friday 20 November - bigger than ever There will be all the usual ingredients, plus a fireworks display from the roof of a nearby office building at the moment the lights go on.

A horse-drawn carriage from Harpenden based Priory Carriages will deliver Santa and friends to the switch-on site in Leys Avenue. As usual, he will be accompanied by cast members from local panto group, SPADS, in costume for this year's show, Jack and the Beanstalk.

New for 2009, will be a team from the Wembley and Watford Eclipse Majorettes troupe, shaking their pompoms and twirling their batons.

Because of their popularity last year, local band Pink Champagne will be playing live on stage in Leys Square from 5.00pm, with assistance from compere Gareth Jones. Father Christmas is due to arrive on stage at about quarter past six, and the switch-on is scheduled to take place at 6.30pm. This is an hour later than last year, to allow working parents time to get home and come out again with their children.

Leys Avenue will be closed to traffic from 12.00 noon, to enable fairground rides to be brought in as an added attraction for this annual family event. The event will close at 8.00pm, and the road re-opens to traffic at 10.00pm.