Falmouth Set To Sparkle (Christmas 2008)

Falmouth Christmas lights are set to get switched on at the end of this month, much later than other areas of the country.

The lights, supported by the town council and local businesses, will be illuminated on the November 30.

Emily Middleditch, from Falmouth Town council, said: “A parade will depart from the Event Square at 4pm to the Moor Piazza, where the light ceremony will take place at approximately 4.45pm by Radio Cornwall.”

Falmouth council have agreed to double any amount that local businesses raise for the Christmas lights fund, and anything up to £12000 is available.

Truro lights will be lit on the November 19, accompanied by the City of Light Lantern Procession. The lights will be turned on by a “special lantern” according to Truro City Council, on Boscawen Street.

The Plymouth switch will be turned on the November 13 by X-Factor contestants ‘Bad Lashes’, who have also promised to produce a live performance to entertain the crowds after the £450,000 lights go on.

However, in other areas of the country, Christmas decorations have been up for weeks already. In Coleford, Gloucestershire, the lights £7000 have been on since early October, prompting annoyance amongst local residents.

Becky Borch, from Coleford, told the Telegraph: “The lights look lovely, but everybody is saying they’ve been put up far too early.”

Also, in Bury St. Edmonds, the lights were illuminated for the first time on the October 3: over 80 days before Christmas.