Celebrating Christmas across Cheshire East

 

Christmas has come early in Cheshire East this year!

In the coming weeks, Christmas lights switch-on events will be staged throughout the area with funfair rides, competitions, giveaways and visits from celebrities.

Footballers Edwin Van der Sar and Phil Jagielka and X Factor star Lloyd Daniels are the big-name festive guests for three of the 12 events scheduled for Cheshire East.

Manchester United and Holland goalkeeper Van der Sar switches on the lights in Alderley Edge on Thursday (November 18) and Jagielka, who plays for Everton and England, will be at the Knutsford launch on Thursday, December 2.

Daniels, who was a 2009 X Factor finalist, will be on hand to turn on the lights in Wilmslow on Friday, November 26.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “Christmas is a magical time and here in Cheshire East, we have some superb local organisations and groups who want to ensure it is celebrated in style and work with us to improve community life.

“All of our switch-on events are set to be highly enjoyable and I encourage residents throughout Cheshire East to make the trip to their nearest town to celebrate.”

Cheshire East hopes the events will help to encourage people to shop locally. Each of its towns is unique in having a large number of independent businesses on the high streets. The authority will be working to ensure they are supported over the festive period and into the New Year.

2010 Christmas Lights switch-on events

• Alderley Edge (The Parade, 6pm-7.30pm), on Thursday, November 18;
• Sandbach (4pm-7pm), on Saturday, November 20;
• Audlem (village square, 6.30pm), on Thursday, November 25;
• Wilmslow (Grove Street, 3pm-8pm), on Friday, November 26;
• Congleton (town centre, 4.30pm-7.30pm), on Friday, November 26;
• Macclesfield (town centre, 4.30pm), on Saturday, November 27;
• Alsager (Lawton Road, 5.30pm), on Sunday, November 28;
• Bollington (Pool Bank, 5.30pm-7pm), on Wednesday, December 1;
• Knutsford (6.30pm), on Thursday, December 2;
• Middlewich (Bull Ring, 5pm), on Friday, December 3;
• Nantwich (town square, 3pm-6pm), on Saturday, December 4;
• Crewe (Market Square, 4pm-7pm), on Thursday, December 9.

More information on these events can be obtained by picking up a copy of the free Cheshire East News magazine or visit www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/christmas or www.christmasincheshire.com