The crowds gathered in their hundreds on the evening of 13th November in Kingston town centre for the annual switching on of the Christmas lights, reaching from the main event in Clarence Street, all the way round to the market square, Horse Fair and Eden Walk. As a yearly tradition, there are always high expectations of this event, with different activities and entertainment throughout the town for all ages.
Tiptoeing round silver figures on stilts, jolly Santas and various other dressed up characters, there was certainly wasn’t a lack of attractions to discover. Candy, hot chestnut and marshmallow stalls created a mix of different aromas, warming the public and filling the crisp, cold air of the evening.
John Lewis held the event, but guests from the Rose Theatre were the ones to flip the final switch to ignite the streets of Kingston with thousands of crystal-like flecks of light. Rows of suspended lights lit the main high street, with a blanket of them surrounding the front windows of the John Lewis/Waitrose partnership building, complimenting four diamond shaped decorations down Wood Street adjacent to it.
I spoke to a group of local actors who were performing together along Clarence Street, about why they were there and what they all do.
“We’re here to raise money for our show ‘Machinal’, written by Sophie Treadwell. It’s a story based on the true tale of one of the first females ever to be executed in America during the 1920s for murdering her husband. We’re hoping to perform this after the Christmas period – it’s all workshop production, so we have no budget given to us, meaning we raise all the money we need for the show ourselves. That’s why we’re here tonight.”
After I asked what in particular about Kingston it was that they liked so much, they responded: “Kingston is such a vivid and multi-cultural town. It’s really one of the best places to come to because you get people of all kinds; different backgrounds, people hanging out with family and friends, college students and so many more, that if you really want to reach out to people, you come here.”
Amongst the crowds there were also glow-sticks and Disney character helium balloons on sale, plus ‘Eden Crafts’: a Christmas craft sale based in the memorial grounds near the front entrance of the Bentall Centre.
Overall, the event was a great success, with every road brimming with people, young and old, fully enjoying the evening presented to them. Once again, Kingston had organised an outstanding occasion, raising the bar on the standards of the night for all future years to come.
Jess Black - Richard Challoner School & Sixth Form
