Hunstanton’s Dickensian Christmas Light Switch-on event a major success

Hunstanton’s first ever Dickensian Christmas Festival took place on Sunday and was a roaring success.

Thousands of visitors flocked to Hunstanton town centre to enjoy all the goings-on at the event, which started at 10am and culminated in the Christmas Light Switch On at 5pm.

Activities began with the Mayor officially opening the Christmas Food & Gift fair in the Town Hall at 10am, with the fun kicking off by KL1 Radio at 12 noon.

Back by popular demand was the hugely popular Snow Globe in the Town Hall car park, fairground rides, Santa's grotto in the Princess Theatre, food and craft stalls pitched up along the High St and live performances on the stage throughout the afternoon from local schools and bands.

There was also Victorian walkabout entertainment in the town, with guest appearance from Charles Dickens, Dickensian stilt-walkers, Victorian dressed characters & animals, carol singing from the Hunstanton Community Choir and Hunstanton Concert Band playing traditional Christmas music. Many visitors had also joined in the fun by dressing as Victorian ladies & gentleman.

The Mayor of Hunstanton Councillor Michael Ruston led the 10 second countdown to the Light Switch On in the High St and the cast of this year’s Panto ‘Jack & the Beanstalk’ carried out the countdown at the Princess Theatre. The Mayor stated "What a brilliant day it was on Sunday. It was great to see Hunstanton Town Centre so busy and vibrant with the many different things that were going on. The highlight for me was all the children up on stage singing their little hearts out and the joy and excitement on their little faces. I was there from the opening of the Christmas Food & Gift Fair, to the light switch-on, there was a great atmosphere all around the town, all I saw all day was so much fun being had by people of all ages. It was brilliant seeing residents and visitors coming out in such large numbers and I hope everyone who attended had as much fun as I did. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it a success”.

The event organisers, Hunstanton Town Council’s Town Events Team would like to thank all the stall traders, entertainers and community groups that joined us. Cllr Mark Williamson, chair of the Events Team said “ Without KL1 Radio, this event would not have been such a huge success, our thanks go to Richard Dix & Paul Baker for organising the stage entertainment. We would like to thank all the local traders who joined in with the fun offering ‘specials’ from their business premises, Lynn Star for providing the trailer for the stage, Rainbow Park for bringing the fairground rides and special thanks to the help and assistance officers from Resort Services, Borough Council of King’s Lynn have given with advice, moving barriers, providing parking signs etc.

It is great to see the town working together in the community”.