SHREWSBURY TO START FESTIVE SEASON WITH A BANG
Shrewsbury’s festive season is set to start with a bang later this month as the town welcomes back the annual Christmas Cracker event.
Organisers, Destination Shrewsbury, are promising an evening of jam-packed entertainment for all the family on Wednesday November 20, from 5-7.30pm, to mark the launch of the Christmas lights and the start of late night shopping.
The fun kicks-off on Saturday November 16 with a free lantern workshop in the Riverside Shopping Centre from 11am-4pm. Participants can make a lantern and will then be invited back to take part in the lantern parade as part of the Christmas Cracker celebrations on November 20.
As well as the spectacular lantern procession organisers have lined up a whole host of musical entertainment from school and gospel choirs, to acoustic singers and even a ukulele band and German Oompah act. There will also be dance performances in the Square and, of course, Santa in his sleigh, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Shawbury and Mid Shropshire.
Performances will take place in the Square, Pride Hill & Darwin Shopping Centres and Shrewsbury Market Hall.
Joining in the fun will be children’s character Lalaloopsy who will be making a very special appearance, courtesy of The Entertainer from 5-6pm on Pride Hill.
Members of the public will also get the chance to meet some of the cast from this year’s Theatre Severn pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. Eric Smith, who plays the King, and Adam Moss, who is Jangles, will be out on Pride Hill after the lantern parade, from 6.45pm.
At 6.30pm the town’s Mayor, Councillor Jon Tandy, and Town Crier Martin Wood, aided by the Shropshire Borders Scouts Corp of Drums, will lead the lantern procession into the Square for a countdown and switch-on at 6.30pm.
The event will then culminate with the launch of the Tree of Light in Darwin Shopping Centre at 7pm, with entertainment continuing until 7.30pm.
Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: “We’re delighted to be able to help again and this year’s Christmas Cracker is set to be even bigger and better than ever.
“It promises to be a fantastic event and we’re thrilled that the Lantern Parade will be starting from the Riverside Centre. It should be a fantastic sight and be a great way to launch Christmas in Shrewsbury.”
For more information, including the full event programme, visit www.shrewsburychristmascracker.co.uk
-- Yoland Brown Brownhill House B&B, Ruyton XI Towns, nr. Shrewsbury SY4 1LR ShACC - Shropshire Alternative Car Club www.eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.com www.ShACC-uk.org Tel: 01939 261 121 Fax: 01939 260626
