Christmas will come to town again this year!

Thursday 04 October 2018

Fundraising for St Peter Port's Christmas lights display has successfully hit the mark for 2018, according to the Chairperson of the organising charity.

Jax Robin said they had recently pushed past the £30,000 mark - which was the amount needed to rent, insure and test the lights, install any new infrastructure for them and to actually put them up.

The fundraisers hit their target three weeks ago, thanks to a £5,000 anonymous donation. La Perla Restaurant also held a charity day for the Christmas Lights Appeal, where they donated all of their takings from Monday 17 September which Ms Robin said raised another £2,000.

Now the money has been counting, the work will get started to put them up. 

"They will start to go up around Town on week of the 7 October," Ms Robins said, while admitting they hadn't raised enough money to carry out all of their plans for this Christmas.

"We will not be lighting the Bordage this year because we were not going to have enough money in time to get it all ready. £3,500 of electric repair work was needed, and while all of the infrasturcutre testing was done, the shortfall in fundraising from earlier in 2018 meant we couldn't do it this year - but we might still do it next year!"

Lights started to go up in Market Square last week, although this is funded by the Market Building owners.

Unlike previous years, however, Quay Street is set to be lit by the festive lights, as Ms Robin said it was one of the key entrances to Town. Additionally, a lit nativity will be set up in Church Square, thanks to the sponsorship of Skipton. 

The Christmas lights switch on itself is moving, with Father Christmas and his helpers due to stop off in Market Square for the annual event which is being held on Saturday 1 December this year.

"There are going to be a few changes but people can expect the usual as well! Everything is well on schedule." 

Overall, there will be lights in Fountain Street, Church Square, Commercial Arcade, Upper & Lower Mill Street, Contree Mansell Street (including a small extension level with the front of Holy Trinity Church, which is new for 2018), High Street, Smith Street, Upper Pollet, Lower Pollet and Quay Street.

Pictured: Centre, Jax Robin, Chairperson of the Christmas Lights Appeal. 

Previously, Ms Robin told Express exactly what the £30,000 the Christmas Lights Appeal needed to raise for the lights would be spent on. She said it was needed to put up and take down the lights, as well as paying the rent, insurance and testing which all takes place.

Following 2017's fundraising drive, there was a surplus left over that was used this year to pay for repairs, storm damage and to buy any new lights needed.

It will take around six weeks for the lights to be put up, before they are switched on during the afternoon of Saturday 1 December in Market Square, where the large Christmas Tree will be located for the first time this year. 

Pictured: Ms Robins has spearheaded the fundraising campaign to ensure St Peter Port is lit up this Christmas.