Latest Images
Ilkeston - Christmas Starts Here
w/e 01 December 2013
Some of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490 & some with a Fuji Finepix L55
In the liturgical year, the season of Advent begins
four Sundays before Christmas which means Advent Sunday this
year falls on December 1st, "Christmas" is a relatively
short season from Christmas Day to Epiphany which starts on January
6th but many commercial enterprises have been planning for the
Christmas season for many months and have been actively promoting
it with the sale of goods for several months now. For many Ilkeston
people though Christmas really started on Friday night, November
29th when the Christmas lights were switched on.
The event began at 5:30pm with the switch on due at 7:00pm but
just before the hour, a familiar figure appeared on the balcony
of the Town Hall which was a little confusing as a clone of the
man in red was sitting in Santa's Grotto and waving to the children
from Santa's Grotto on the Market Place opposite.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Balcony Visitor"
below.
|
So it was just after seven that the Mayor of Erewash,
Councillor Val Clare assisted by her young granddaughter pressed
the plunger to illuminate all the lights in the town centre.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Switched On" below.
|
Even with the lights on though, the crowd's attention was still
focused on the Town Hall.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "The Crowd" below.
|
And the reason for their attention was a surprise fireworks display
on the top of the building. I just wonder how many traumatised
cats and dogs there are around the town centre following this
unexpected and unannounced explosion of screeches, whooshes and
bangs.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Fireworks" below.
|
At the end of the display, the crowd thinned to sample the fairground
attractions that had gathered to add to the festive entertainment.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Fairground Attractions"
below.
|
Meanwhile in front of the Town Hall, local band Wildest Dream
performed on the stage and Santa's little helpers offered goodies
to the children.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Band of Helpers"
below.
|
There was no shortage of takers too as the man himself fetched
treats from his sack.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Santa" below.
|
Stilt walkers were also on hand to add to the entertainment and
here met the Mayor and her granddaughter - you could say it's
the long and the short of it.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Long & Short"
below.
|
Despite the crowds on the Market Place, South Street looked almost
deserted.
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "South Street"
below.
|
The Lower Market Place was a different matter however where a
"Victorian Market" was in full swing and was full of
many charity stalls. The town's Christmas tree by the Cenotaph
was somewhat in the shadows and almost lost among the lights
on the fairground rides but it will come into its own together
with the lights in the trees by the church wall during the coming
weeks after the fair has gone. Yes, Christmas starts here!
To record this photo as your favourite
from this week's selection vote for "Trees" below.
|
