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Festive Fans Encouraged To Keep Lytham’s Christmas Lights Shining

Organisers behind Lytham’s Christmas Lights Switch-On event are appealing to the public to help them raise funds for the annual event.

It costs around £18,000 to stage the official Switch-On event with an additional £9,000 needed to keep the festive lights shining.

In past years, the Lytham Christmas Lights Committee, with support from Lytham Business Partnership, has successfully fundraised throughout the year while also receiving generous donations from businesses and individuals, both in the run up to and during the Switch-On event held in the town’s Clifton Square. While a grant for £8,000 from Fylde Borough Council goes towards the installation and upkeep of the lights as well as covering the cost of a Christmas Tree.

Restrictions on social gatherings have resulted in a gap in fundraising and with the Switch-On held as a virtual online event last year, there has been little opportunity for people to dig deep into their pockets to help out.

Now, Lytham Christmas has launched a Go Fund Me page in the hope it will encourage people to financially support the free event in November and the lights which will shine until the end of January.

You can donate to the Go Fund Me page https://gofund.me/7aea69d5

Cllr Brenda Blackshaw heads up the volunteers of the Lytham Christmas organising committee and is appealing to everyone to help.

Cllr Blackshaw said: ‘Lytham Christmas Lights Switch-on takes place every year as we launch the festive period in our wonderful town. The Switch-On event is completely free to everyone and provides an afternoon of fantastic entertainment attracting crowds of around 5,000 people as we officially switch the Christmas lights on. But to stage the event and pay for the lights to run throughout that period costs in excess of £27,000 and that money has to be raised.

‘All our artists perform at no cost and we are very fortunate that many local businesses do donate financially to help us out, but we have been restricted in our fundraising this past year and that means we are now struggling to find the money required to cover the event.

‘By setting up a Go Fund Me page we hope we can encourage more people to support our event which is not only a lovely way to mark the start of the festive season, but is also a huge boost to businesses throughout Lytham as it attracts such a large crowd.

‘Every donation, however small, will make a difference and ensure we can kick off the festive season in style.’

Lytham Christmas Switch-On is planned to take place on Saturday November 20 with entertainment starting from 2pm. The full line-up will be announced soon.

Past years have seen a string of stars officially flick the switch to light up Lytham including people’s tenor Russell Watson, musical theatre boyband Collabro, 80s pop star Sonia, 70s pop favourites, The Bay City Rollers, Britain’s Got Talent finalists Bring It North and Jonathan Antoine, TV actress Cheryl Fergison and most recently ITV Dancing on Ice professional ice skater Daniel Whiston.

The event attracts crowds of around 5,000 people who gather to enjoy an afternoon of free entertainment from both local performers and household names.

To find out more about Lytham Christmas you can follow their Facebook page at facebook.com/LythamChristmas

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