The festive season has arrived in Helston following last night’s Christmas lights switch on.

In one of the busiest events for many years, partly thanks to the dry weather, the town centre was packed with thousands of people keen to celebrate the coming of Christmas and enjoy the entertainment on offer.

There was music from local groups and bands before and after the switch on, with Helston Town Band playing carols and Culdrose Military Wives Choir, Sounds Ecclectic on Cornish Roots and the Helston Concert Band also performing festive tunes.

Father Christmas and his elves were around giving gifts to children, and there were pony rides, small fairground rides and plenty of hot food served by vans as well as the town’s shops and cafes, many of which stayed open late for the occasion.

At 7.30pm BBC newsreader Rebecca Wills led the countdown, before Harvest Fair king and Queen Josh and Maddie pressed the plunger to switch on the lights.

This was the cue for the fireworks display staged by Bobby Eustis and David Eva to begin, as well as ‘snow’ to start falling around the main stage, to the delight of the surrounding children.

This year's lights feature new set displays, along with 1,000 new LED bulbs and new lighting to enhance the outline of the refurbished Grylls Monument, thanks to a £10,000 donation from Helston Town Council.

More than 50 small Christmas trees have also been mounted on shop fronts, with the whole display thanks to the hard work of the 20 odd volunteers led by lights committee chairman Robert Williams.

The Helston Christmas Lights Committee relies heavily on donations as costs rise, with the insurance alone costing £2,600.

Donations of any size can be sent to Robert Williams, care of 10 Meneage Street, Helston, TR13 8AB. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Helston Christmas Lights.'

To take part as a trader or volunteer at any of the Christmas events email helston.christmas.lights@gmail.com

  • See more photos in this Wednesday's Helston Packet.