MORPETH town centre will brighten up on Saturday when its Christmas lights are switched on in the Market Place.
And there is plenty of fun for all the family beforehand with a free children’s roundabout and music as well as the Morpeth and District Chamber of Trade’s Mistletoe Fair in the Town Hall.
The outdoor programme for the lights display, funded by Mor
peth Town Council and the Chamber, begins at about 4.10pm with a welcome by Morpeth Mayor Ken Brown.
During the next 30 minutes there will be carol singing led by the (Not) The Three Tenors group and accompanied by the Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery Band and a Christmas address by the Rector of Morpeth, Reverend Robert McLean. Morpeth ‘Gadgy’ Alex Swailes will be the MC.
The lights will be switched on by Ellie Morgan, winner of the Morpeth Fair Day Fancy Dress Competition, at 4.45pm.
Town Council Clerk Gillian Turner said: “The 2009 display will boast new features for Bridge and Newgate Streets. We don’t want to spoil the surprise but to give a clue, the town’s ‘colours’ will be used and there will certainly be a lot of sparkle.
“Of course, the Town Hall will still have its cascading snowflakes and the Market Place its canopy, but come and join us and you will not be disappointed.”
There will be a range of stalls run by local craftspeople and small businesses during the Mistletoe Fair, which will take place in the Butter Market, Corn Exchange and the Ballroom from 11.30am to 5pm. These include cards, scarves, jewellery, cushions, soaps, candles, proggy mats made by the Woodhorn Matters group and other giftware.
Tapas lunches from La Bodega will be available in the Butter Market until 3pm and MorpethWeb is donating mulled wine which adult patrons get free throughout the event, but donations for it will go The Sanctuary Wildlife Care Centre at Ulgham.
As well as a children’s roundabout, the Chamber of Trade will provide candy floss and old fashioned sweet stalls and a hog roast for the Market Place.
Secretary Val Pope said: “The whole event has grown from a small scale experiment into a very popular and well attended addition to the Christmas festivities.
“We are proud to work in conjunction with Morpeth Town Council and Northumberland County Council to make this contribution to the town’s seasonal celebrations.”
The Clock Tower Bellringers will round off the afternoon with a traditional bell peal and mince pies and hot drinks will then be served in the Town Hall by the Morpeth Soroptimists.
