Around 2,000 people crammed into Todmorden town centre to see the night sky lit up by the Lamplighter Festival and Parade.
And visitors had been pouring into town all day last Saturday, as the parade was the culmination of a day of entertainment aimed at providing a “wow” factor for townspeople and visitors alike.
It began at noon when Todmorden Town Hall was packed with young people as community groups and individuals came together to present Kidsfest, an afternoon of crafts and fun for children and built up to a crescendo with music and carols as Mayor of Todmorden Coun Jayne Booth threw the switch to illuminate Todmorden’s colourful Christmas lights as tea-time approached.
Then, with Todmorden market staying open late and bands provided strolling performances for those enjoying the festival atmosphere, with some wonderful designs, performances and installations at Lever Street and Dale Street in the town centre, it was time for the parade to take centre stage in crisp but clear weather conditions that were just perfect for the event.
Local children had worked over several weeks at workshops run by Handmade Parade to create lanterns for the event, which also featured some stunning giant models headed by The Lady of the Lamp.
Andrew Kim, director of the Lamplighter Festival added: “We were over the moon with how many people, local and from out-of-town, came out to line the streets and enjoy the street theatre and market. We are so very proud of all the amazing world-class artists from the Todmorden area who gave so much of their time and talents to make this an exceptional gift to their community — Christmas came early for Todmorden!”