Basingstoke Online Forum

Last year there was some sort of firework display coming from near LLoyds Bar, and I'm sure someone said it was a display organized by Festival Place. Anyone got any ideas if it will be happening again this year?

yes, its on the same night that the xmas lights come on!

Thanks Trevor I was beggining to think I'd imagined them

I remember seeing them setting up in that ampitheatre last year.

You jogged my memory Shell.

Does anyone know who is doing the "switching on"?

I lifted this from the Festival Place Web site

Quote:THE BIG SWITCH ON CELEBRATION
And Festival Place
Makes a Christmas Wish Come True


Date: Friday 21st November 2008

Time: 5pm - Live entertainment in Festival Square

5.20pm - Santa Parade

6pm -Countdown to Christmas Light Switch On & Fireworks

Location: Festival Square, Festival Place



Christmas officially kicks off at Festival Place this Friday 21st November, with the exciting Festive Parade and Christmas Lights Switch On. And this year Festival Place has invited young Jamie Lock, aged 9, from Make-A-Wish Foundation UK to perform the all-important festive duty. Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. Jamie, who is living with Cystic Fibrosis, was invited by Festival Place to help lead the Festive Parade and switch on the Christmas lights - which must be at the top of any child's Christmas Wish List!



Jamie will be helped out on the countdown stage by panto character, Aladdin played by CBBC presenter Pui Fan Lee and joined in the Festive Parade by Michael Roberts, who is playing Ebenezer Scrooge at The Haymarket Pantomime.



Join us for the Santa Parade leaving Bedford Sq at 5.15pm and travelling through the centre to arrive in Festival Sq at 5.45pm

Or if you prefer, join us from 5pm in Festival Sq for live entertainment hosted by KestrelFM DJ Mark Watson.

Family fun for all, including song and dance from the Basingstoke Academy, local singer songwriter Billy Phillips and comedy from our Christmas Crackers!

The lights will herald the start of the firework display at 6pm; it really will be a night to remember in more ways than one!

Blimey! Kestrel FM actully doing something outside their studio?

Usually 2Ten FM do all the radio stuff!

(15-11-2008 09:34 AM)Albert Grumble Wrote: [ -> ]Blimey! Kestrel FM actully doing something outside their studio?
Usually 2Ten FM do all the radio stuff!

KestrelFM is the only name I recognise Albert.
They used to have 'real' stars to do the switching, when the centre wasn't so commercial. After the fun with the cars driving around you'd think they'd get someone we all recognise to switch on the lights wouldn't you?

I shall be boring and not turn up once again. The lights are usually pretty basic, and the tree was probably made in China by a thousand peasants....
Where has all the magic gone I wonder?

I think it is lovely that turning on the lights is a treat for a kid - so much better than some soap star or sports star.

(16-11-2008 12:26 AM)Della Wrote: [ -> ]I think it is lovely that turning on the lights is a treat for a kid - so much better than some soap star or sports star.

I wouldn't want soap actors either Della, but Louis Hamilton or David Beckham would please many children I'm sure. I would like to see 'real' actors or proper famous people too, maybe like other towns do quite successfully.

It's a bit like the panto this year at the Anvil. Some soap actor from Oz once again, trying to kick start a new career or a book over here. We used to have really good actors when the place opened but now it's just mediocre stuff.

It's second best for Basingstoke once again. Maybe the cream doesn't rise to the top in this town? It just curdles!
Maybe the stars refuse to come come out in Basingstoke - who knows?

The reason no big name stars come is because they are not allowed too. Its written in the lease of their occupancy etc.

It all stems from that time about 10 years ago when i think it was Ross Kemp and AN Other turned up and it caused chaos. Too many people, numeours got injured with crushing etc and from that day on they said enough is enough and they wont do that again....so instead you get someone from CBeebies or similar.