Neston Christmas Lights Switch-on

This year’s Christmas Lights Switch on will be a community-run event, funded by Neston Town Council. Events will take place in Neston Town Hall & Market Square, Neston Library, Neston Parish Church and Neston Community & Youth Centre, culminating with the Lights Switch on at The Cross at 6 pm.

Neston Town Hall & Market Square 1 – 5.30 p.m.
There will be a festive Artisan Food & Craft Market in the Main Hall.
Festive music will be provided by the Kylemore Community Ceilidh Music Group on the market square and the brilliant 64 N’Ukes will be busking, as will Neston’s very own Gabriel Roberts.
The market will also include:
A FREE Christmas trail with a small festive prize for every entrant. Entry forms and prizes can be collected from the charity book stall.
‘Lomo crafts’ will be offering a FREE paint your own Christmas tree ornament activity for children and adults, you can also purchase an alternative model to paint on the day or take home as a kit.
‘Essentially Josephine’ will be offering some FREE side stall games with a little prize, alongside her stall selling trinkets, drinkware & personalised items etc.
Martyn Harvey, author of Squiggly Pete the Pirate books, will be doing some festive cartooning and painting alongside the sale of his books.
‘Cranked Gorilla’ will have some retro computer and console games for you to try your hand at for FREE.

Neston Library 1.30 – 5 p.m.
Santa will be in his Narnia-themed grotto in Neston Library from 1.30 to 5 pm., assisted by members of the Wirral & Neston Rotary Club.
Children will be able to take part in a FREE gingerbread decorating activity, and refreshments will be available too.

Neston Parish Church 1 – 5 p.m.
Rev Fr Kevin Crinks, and of course his loyal dog Brian, are offering refreshments inside the Parish Church.
From 1 to 5 pm there will be a FREE face painter, a FREE biscuit decorating activity, with The Wooden Spoonful, and Little Actors will be holding a teddy tombola, and at 4 pm Little Actors will be providing musical entertainment.

Neston Community Youth Centre 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
NCYC will be holding FREE lantern making workshops in November. Details are on their website or phone 0151 336 7805.
Between 11 am and 2 pm NCYC will be offering festive games plus a range of FREE craft activities, including friendship bracelet making with Community Yarn Crafts, and creating Christmas decorations from recycled items, courtesy of Neston Earth Group. You could also enjoy a drink from the Hot Chocolate Station before following the Candy Cane Trail to the other locations involved on the day.

The Finale 6 p.m.
Late afternoon, Neston Pirate Samba will be visiting all locations to ‘drum’ up support for The Finale, led by Little Actors Theatre School’s Pantomime Dame and Fairy Godmother.
Santa will walk from the parish church to The Cross accompanied by local children carrying their lanterns and the Lyceum Band will be playing Christmas tunes. The Little Actors panto duo will be in on the action again at The Cross where everyone can join in and sing some festive favourites. Santa and Neston Junior Council will switch on the lights at 6 pm.

Please take care when making your way home as Market Traders will be packing away, and vehicles, including vans, will be moving around on the Market Square.

The town centre cafés have been encouraged to stay open late. You also have a great selection of local restaurants and pubs.
The first aid station will be in the Town Hall reception area.