The Christmas lights of Stowmarket were turned on at 6:30 with crowds of people braving the arctic weathers to see them.

It’s always a family event but with many stalls around, and shops staying open untill 8pm to cope with all the extra people in the town, many people were taking the chance to purchase sledges for the snowy few days ahead. I myself took the chance to purchase some chocolate cakes from the Girl Guides stall, pictured below.

James Redmond opened the event with top local music acts performing throughout the night. These included the superb 60-strong Ipswich Community Gospel Choir, the duo of Dumbfoundus, the great Stowmarket Concert Band and the excellent local singer songwriter Dave Collins.

As always Bury Street looking like a little winter wonderland, with its twinkling icicle lights, which and i may be mistaken, run all they way to the Stag Tavern this year, much further than last year.

You may remember last year we included the Bury Street lights as our front page cover but we didnt have the luxury of the crisp white snow of this year. Noble & White have given us such a fantastic window display this year we had to use it as our front cover picture. The owner, Isabel Wilton said they put a lot of effort into their shop window, and even more so at Christmas. They won the best window competion last year and as such were not allowed to enter again this year, so watch out all you other shop owners in Stowmarket as I’m sure they will try twice as hard year next year!!

All in all the evening was a great success and fun was had by all. From the street lights the the shop windows and of course the Tree, we should all be very pleased with our display and i hope you all get a chance to visit the town and see it for yourselves.