A thousand people are estimated to have turned out to see the Wilmslow Christmas lights be switched on this evening to mark the start of the festive season.
Crowds wrapped up warm and lined the streets to watch Santa arrive and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Smiling children, and adults, thoroughly enjoyed seeing Father Christmas proceed through the town on his sleigh drawn by a flock of reindeer. As I walked alongside the parade I heard dozens of little ones shout out with delight as they realised there were real reindeer.
Santa was joined on sleigh by brothers Leo, aged 6, and Oscar, aged 4, lucky competition winners.
The parade, led by Styal Brass and featuring the Alderley and Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company, finished at Banks Square where hundreds of people gathered for the evening's entertainment.
First on stage was Wilmslow Rock Choir followed by performances by the choirs from Wilmslow High School and Lacey Green Academy.
Then children's TV star Dave Benson Phillips was joined on stage by actor John Altman (Nasty Nick Cotton from Eastenders) who are performing in Aladdin at Stockport Plaza this month.
The crowd shouted the countdown as they did the honours of switching on the Wilmslow Christmas lights.
This very successful event was organised by the Town Council and compered by Wilmslow resident Erik Garner who runs Wilmslow Football Academy.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I do hope that the young children in the crowd were not too disappointed. however.
Concept (real reindeer, Santa & sleigh) & location was better then last year, but with hindsight planning & execution of Santa's procession was a disappointment.
I expected the procession to form in Sainsbury car park and exit via South Drive on to main Alderley Road to Grove St or Green Lane (closed to vehicles)/. Police could have held traffic at Sainsbury ped crossing and Rex/Water La TLs, max traffic delay 6 mins, with ped spectators kept to pavements for best view.
I cannot comment on crowd poblems in Grove St, as I side-stepped down Green La, other than to observe ther was no crowd control barriers evident in Grove St, Bank Sq or in front of the stage to allow procession easy access. So the choir, & Styal band seperately arrived with Santa arriving later on foot, sans sleigh or reindeer.
Surely someone on WTC has the expertise to source/advise on promotional event organisation?