Events & Entertainment, Wimborne | Posted on December 2nd, 2024 | return to news
Snow falls and musket fire for Wimborne Christmas lights switch on
A huge crowd gathered in Wimborne Square on Saturday 29 November for the switching on of the town’s festive lights.
Snow fell over Wimborne – if not across other parts of the region – on Saturday 29 November when the town held its Christmas lights switch on.
However, it was thanks to a snow gun which delighted the huge crowd, rather than ice crystals falling from the clouds.
The switching of the lights was preceded by performances on a stage in the Square featuring community and school choirs, the Quarterjacks Marching Band and Footlight Performance Academy.
The honour of the big Christmas lights switch on was given to local school children, Alice Graham from St John’s First School and Jemima Cripps from Allenbourn Middle School. Both had won first prize in a competition to design posters to promote the town’s Christmas events. Joining the winner was the mayor of Wimborne’s official Scout escort Madeline Morris, also from Allenbourn School. Three-year-old Finley Wasiak joined in on the moment too.
Wimborne Mayor Cllr Jeff Hart said: “This is one of the events I have been looking forward to most in my mayoral calendar. What a fabulous atmosphere and a great day for families and friends to enjoy. And thankfully the rain held off too.”
Barbara Buffton, a member of Just Sing choir, who performed, said: “We’ve been singing in Wimborne for the Christmas Lights Switch On for the past 12 years. There’s such a sense of community spirit. You feel so safe, and everyone is smiling and friendly. We’re so lucky to have events like this happening in our town.”
For the first time, there was a Christmas market held in the High Street car park, featuring 20 stalls offering food, drink and Christmas gifts plus live music and live broadcasts from the town’s community radio station, Radio Wimborne. Some shops extended their opening hours for late night shopping and many car parks offered free parking.
Fiona Harwood, chairperson of Wimborne BID, said: “Having the market in the High Street car park allowed us to really transform the space with decorations and lighting to create a great atmosphere. The focus of the BID is to bring more customers to Wimborne, and events like this certainly do that.”
No event in Wimborne is complete without Wimborne Militia. The town’s 17th century re-enactment group fired a finale volley of muskets on Wimborne Minster green, an age-old custom to ward off evil winter spirits.
Over 25,000 LED bulbs and 2,000 metres of string and rope lighting were installed to decorate the town, along with a huge Christmas tree as the centrepiece in the town square.
Festivities continue in the town right up until Christmas. Next week sees Small Business Saturday with street parties on Saturday 7 December to celebrate Wimborne’s array of small businesses. The town’s annual Save the Children parade with floats and a funfair takes place on Saturday 14 December and on Friday 20 December, people can enjoy Carols in the Cornmarket.
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