The Big Switch On
| Published: 12th November 2007 14:52 |
Cool Stoke will be helping to launch Stoke-on-Trent's Christmas Season. As the Christmas lights explode into action on 15 November in Fountain Square in the City Centre, we will be asking people to bear in mind climate change this Christmas. The city council is taking the lead as all its Christmas lights are low energy.
The climate change awareness campaign will be putting on some funny sketches as part of the build-up to the big switch on by Gordon Banks, Johnny Wilkes, Santa and the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Cllr Bagh Ali. The team will also be giving people the chance to get in competition entries for the One Tonne Challenge before it closes on 16 December.
"We want everyone to have a brilliant time this Christmas" said Councillor Paul Billington, portfolio holder for the environment at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, "but we are asking them to remember to save energy where they can."
It is free to come along to the Christmas Lights Switch-on, where there will be activity from 10am onwards. Cool Stoke will be on one of the stalls in Tontine Square throughout the day.
Entertainment starts at 10am with ice scupltor Ben Hamilton. Ben will be on the forecourt of The Metro Bar in Fountain Square, Hanley carving a two metre tall standing polar bear. When he's finished carving - about 4pm - a light under the ice bear's feet will make him glow.
At 5.30pm the big countdown begins. Santa's parade leaves the Victoria Hall at 6pm to wind its way through the streets, arriving in Fountain Square at 6.30pm. Then local hero Gordon Banks will help Jonathan Wilkes, Santa and the Lord Mayor to switch on the lights. This is followed by a pyrotechnical finale.
