Lights switch-on brings festive cheer to city (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Lights switch-on brings festive cheer to city

11:13pm Sunday 15th November 2009 in News By Tanya O'Rourke

Bradford city centre was filled with festive cheer as crowds gathered to watch the Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday evening.

Thousands of people huddled in Centenary Square from 4.30pm as the build-up began. They joined in the festivities as carols were led by the Bradford Cathedral Choir, and festive funk, ska and calypso music was provided by the Red Hot Santas.

A spectacular show, called K@osmos, thrilled the crowd, as an aerial display was put on by world famous acrobats Grupo Puja, accompanied by a live band and light show.

City Hall glowed pink, purple and green and the music built up as a large ball suspended from a crane was hoisted slowly high above the square.

Suspended from it were the Grupo Puja acrobats, twisting and bending their bodies into star-shapes, circles and triangles. Later in the performance the acrobats released “snow” from packs attached to their backs, which scattered over the crowd.

After the show Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bradford, Councillor John Godward and his wife Jean, took to the stage as Bradford’s illuminations were switched on.

Addressing the crowd, the Lord Mayor said: “That was an absolutely fabulous performance and I hope they will be back soon. This is only the first event of our celebrations. We have the German Christmas Market next Saturday and the city carol service which will be spectacular. This is just the start of the festive family fun in the city.”

A firework display rounded off the the entertainment at around 6.30pm.

Dominic Clough, of Brighouse, brought his daughter Tabitha, two, and niece Abby, four, to the event. He said: “It’s the first time we’ve brought both of the children along. It was really good last year so we decided to come back.”

Fiona Brogden, of Thornton, Bradford, brought her grandson Dominic Thewlis, two, to watch the show. She said: “This is my first year here and we’ve been singing along to the carols.”

And yesterday morning Bradford welcomed reindeer to the city centre as they paraded through the streets, accompanied by shire horses loaned by Bradford Industrial Museum.

Arianna Hastie, six, from Shipley, said: “This is the first time I have seen reindeer and they are really cute.”

The reindeer pulled a sleigh carrying Kirkgate Shopping Centre colouring competition winners Joseph Hemmans and Izzy Slater. Centre manager Catherine Riley said: “The weather has been very kind, and we’ve got a large crowd.”

Christmas events will continue over the next few weeks. From Saturday the German Christmas Market will be in Centenary Square, with a carousel, bierkeller and bratwurst.

A Victorian Christmas Market will include carol singers and children’s entertainment at Bradford Industrial Museum on the weekend of November 28 and 29.

The city carol service will be at Bradford Cathedral on December 14, and a midwinter medieval celebration will be at Bolling Hall on December 20.

Christmas lights will be switched on in Keighley on Thursday, in Ilkley on Saturday, and in Shipley and Bingley on Saturday, November 28.