Christmas celebrations planned for town centre (From Warrington Guardian)
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Christmas celebrations planned for Warrington town centre
2:30pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News
Clr Mike Hannon
QUEEN’S Gardens will be turned into a festive market as part of the town’s Christmas celebrations.
Discussions are under way to house a Christmas Market in the park at Palmyra Square in November.
Restaurants and businesses from the surrounding ‘Cultural Quarter’ will be able to get involved as the gardens are used as a centrepiece for a one-night only in the run up to Christmas - similar to Manchester’s hugely successful Christmas Markets.
Clr Mike Hannon, deputy leader at Warrington Borough Council, says it will be part of a full programme of events designed to bring shoppers to the town centre for the festive rush.
He added: “When we came up with the idea for the Cultural Quarter all those years ago this is what we wanted.
“We are going to have a Christmas Market in the outdoor setting and it will allow those restaurants in that area to serve food and drink in that setting. We will also have Christmas themed stalls.
“We will also mix it in with the lantern parade which was so successful last year.”
Details are still being finalised but it is understood food will be sold from stalls in the area and drink from inside the various bars and restaurants.
Clr Hannon said plans were also in place to attract shoppers into the town in December with a variety of entertainment planned to keep the town’s shops and businesses busy.
The light-switch on is also in the planning stage although it is unlikely that a big name star such as Peter Andre, used last year, will be hired again.
Full details will be confirmed later in the year.
ginger_bear says...
7:31pm Tue 25 Sep 12
No doubt Mr Hannon wants to insert himself in the place of the 'celebrity' to give his ego the regular nourishment it seems to need. To save on costs, perhaps he could put on a costume and turn up dressed as Father Christmas singing "ho ho ho" and give out some free Skittles to the kids. His fellow councillors could come as the happy little elves, dancing around him and kissing his boots. No need to pay out when we have got all the clowns to hand we need already.