In the first of a whole host of events this season, Charter Square and the arc shopping centre in Bury St Edmunds was lit up with new Christmas lights yesterday evening (Wednesday, November 16).
Organised by the Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID), and funded by Suffolk businesses, the Light Switch On is the first in a programme of Christmas in Bury St Edmunds celebrations.
Mark Cordell, CEO at Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID), said: "It is a very community-based event. We provide free stalls for a number of charities and community groups, and there are schools and musical performers performing on stage, fairground rides, and street entertainers.
"It kicks off the Christmas period in Bury St Edmunds. It's the first of a great number of events happening in the town in the run-up to Christmas.
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"The lights are switched on at the beginning. We have some new Christmas lights, and new lights at the arc shopping centre, accentuating the re-opening of the market thoroughfare.
"The businesses help fund this event. It's a really good event every year and hundreds attend.
"We get some curmudgeons saying that it is far too early to talk about Christmas, but for our traders it is a very important period that represents a very high potential income of their overall turnover for the year.
"Traditionally, it is always on a Thursday and we like to keep that tradition, and it is all of benefit to the community."
Next in the town is the huge Christmas market next Thursday (November 23) in the cathedral, running until Saturday, November 25, from 10am until 4.30pm daily.
More than 50 stalls of businesses from Suffolk and beyond who will showcase their products along with daily entertainment in the St Edmundsbury Cathedral Christmas Market.
All the festive events in the town are delivered by a partnership of organisations including arc Shopping Centre, Our Bury St Edmunds BID, Bury St Edmunds Town Council, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and West Suffolk Council.
Events are listed on the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds website.
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