A cracker of a Christmas in the capital is set to start on Thursday November 23 with the switching on of the Christmas lights.
Lower Ridgeway Street will once again be the setting for an evening of family entertainment compered by 3FM which starts at 6.15pm with seasonal music from Douglas Town Band, followed by a sneak preview at 6.30pm of Aladdin, this year’s pantomime at the Gaiety Theatre and at 6.40pm a Christmas-themed performance from Young Actor of Mann 2017 Alexandra Slater.
The Mayor of Douglas Debbie Pitts will then join the proceedings accompanied by the Mayor’s chaplain, the Archdeacon of Man, the Ven Andrew Brown, who will offer prayers. Then at 7.00pm the mayor will switch on the Christmas lights, ‘snow’ will fall, Santa will be in his grotto on the corner of John Street, Thursday late-night shopping begins…and Christmas comes to the capital.
As in previous years, the stage will be in Lower Ridgeway Street, with spectator access provided from Prospect Hill, Victoria Street and King Street. A disabled viewing area directly in front of the stage can be accessed from Lord Street and strategically placed screens will show all the action live.
A number of road closures will be in force before, during and after the event, principal among which are:
• Ridgeway Street from Lord Street to Prospect Hill from 7pm on Wednesday
November 22 until 2am on Friday November 24;
• Prospect Hill from Athol Street to Ridgeway Street from 12 noon until 12
midnight on Thursday November 23;
• King Street (between Ridgeway Street and Ridgeway Street Lane) from 5.30pm to
midnight on Thursday 23;
• Ridgeway Street Lane between Lord Street and Victoria Street from 5.30pm to
midnight on Thursday 23.
There will be free parking in Douglas Borough Council’s Shaw’s Brow and Bottleneck car parks from 5 to 10pm on pre-Christmas Thursdays from November 23 and all day Saturday and Sunday until December 24. Additionally, in Chester Street car park there is ‘Free after Three’ parking Monday to Friday and a flat rate of ?2 for all-day Saturday
parking.
The event is always well attended and for safety reasons the council may have to restrict numbers.
For more details, contact Douglas town hall, 696300.
Photo - A scene from the 2016 Christmas lights switch-on event. Photo Andrew Barton.
