Ilkeston - A Magical Evening
w/e 27 November 2016
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
Erewash Borough Council promised "A magical
evening of festive fun, seasonal sights, live music and free
family entertainment" at the switching on of Ilkeston's
Christmas lights but it didn't happen without a lot of preparatory
work.
For several weeks now vehicles like this have been seen around
the town centre as the lights were erected.
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They were strung across the streets between the buildings but
weren't due to be switched on until Friday night November 25th
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I don't know whether the Albion Centre stole a march on the Council
or jumped the gun but the lights and decorations there have been
illuminated for several days as this image from Friday morning
shows.
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It was not until a couple of days prior to the switching on event
that the Christmas Tree appeared on the Market Place but by Friday
morning it had been draped with lights too. Apart from a few
market stalls the Market Place was clear on Friday morning.
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By mid afternoon the transformation was well underway with fairground
attractions and Santa's Cabin being set up. It was almost like
a time warp back to the middle of October when the Annual Charter
Fair was in town.
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And on the stroke of seven o'clock the transformation was complete
when the lights were switched on and the Town Hall erupted with
a display of fireworks from the roof.
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The Market Place was crowded and in parts you just had to shuffle
along shoulder to shoulder as people made their way around the
attractions.
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Ilkeston Brass had started the event before the lights were switched
on and entertainment outside the Town Hall was also provided
by The Heatwaves, a soul tribute trio.
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There was also music in St Mary's Church with a community carol
singing session. Refreshments were served in the adjacent Cantelupe
Centre where there were a number of fund raising activities for
the Roof Appeal.
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At the Erewash Museum, a Dickensian evening was held in conjunction
with the lights switching on event and here too music was featured
with a group of "Victorian carol singers" in the refurbished
stables at the museum. There were also several other volunteers
at the museum in Victorian costume to add to that promised "magical
evening" as the build up to Christmas continues apace.
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