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Preston Christmas: Festive lights expansion, Winter Wonderland and Christmas Market planned

Posted on - 4th October, 2014 - 12:07pm | Author - | Posted in - Business, Christmas, City Centre, Preston City Centre, Preston News, What's On in Preston
Preston Christmas lights on Fishergate Pic: Paul Melling

Preston Christmas lights on Fishergate Pic: Paul Melling

More than £60,000 is to be spent on new Christmas lights for Preston city centre.

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It’s part of a £125,000 investment on drawing shoppers into Preston for the festive season.

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Preston’s Business Improvement District announced the new festive lights are to be expanded to parts of Church Street and more lights on the Flag Market.

A Winter Wonderland is to run on the Flag Market from mid-December including an ice rink, Christmas market and an Alpine bar.

BID committee member Babs Murphy said the lights were a number of initiatives being run to tempt shoppers into Preston.

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She said: “Christmas is all wrapped up for Preston this year and we cannot wait to welcome shoppers to the city centre.

“The BID has been instrumental in raising the quality of the offer Preston has, and now we believe we are on a par with anywhere else in the North West and beyond.

“In the past ten months, we have gone far and wide for inspiration, even taking this year’s designs for blue-and-white festive lights from one of the country’s premier shopping destinations, Oxford Street in London.

“We recognise that Christmas is a crucial trading period for our high street traders and we have pulled out all the stops to try and attract people to proud Preston.

“Together with the Winter Wonderland, the switch-on, late night shopping, free parking and not forgetting the outstanding shopping offer the city has, can you afford not to come and see us this Christmas?”

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The Winter Wonderland on the Flag Market in 2013

The Winter Wonderland on the Flag Market in 2013 Pic: Tony Worrall

The Christmas Lights are due to be switched on during Saturday 15 November from 5.30pm.

Organisers are promising household names and entertainment to flick the switch, Gabriella Cilmi performed at last year’s switch on. You can watch last year’s switch on below, or if you’re on our app click here to watch.

The Winter Wonderland will run from Saturday 13 December and is being organised in conjunction with Preston City Council.

Cabinet member for culture and leisure at the city council, Councillor Veronica Afrin, said: “Working with the Business Improvement District, we have put together a great city centre offer to attract both residents and visitors.

“Guaranteeing everyone a magical experience in Preston this Christmas, the Flag Market will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland, adding to the atmosphere in the city centre. It’s bigger and better this year with offers for all the family.”

Free parking at the Market Hall car park for set days and times in the run up to Christmas is being finalised by Preston City Council.

Late-night shopping is to run at the Fishergate Centre on Wednesday and Thursday nights from mid-November.

The St George’s Shopping Centre and wider city centre are to run late-night shopping during December.

What do you think of the Christmas plans for Preston? Do you shop in the city centre? Let us know in the comments below

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