Local News Poet's Corner

Christmas star sought for lights switch-on

Andover Christmas Lights Switch On

Andover’s local radio station is searching for a ‘Christmas Star’ to switch on this year’s Christmas lights in Andover High Street.

The spectacular event this year is Friday 16th November, when the town centre will fill with people, festive foods and an exceptional stage programme of performers from around the area, with the BIG TV Screen in front of the Guildhall.

Schools from across Andover have been contacted to ask pupils to write poems with a festive theme and submit them by email to the radio station.

Entrants will be judged by a panel from Andover Town Council and Love Andover.  The winner will be announced in early November.  The winning poem will be recorded, produced and shown as an animation on the BIG TV screen immediately before the lucky winner gets the honour of switching on this year’s lights.  There will also be a fun prize hamper for the winner, plus kudos for the winning school.

Some entrants’ poems may also be recorded and broadcast on Andover Radio on the run-up to the big event.

The annual event has grown in popularity over the past few years and is highly regarded as one of the best in the country for a town the size of Andover.  The evening starts around 5pm with music and entertainment, culminating in the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights and, as always a firework display.

Children’s rides, face painting and food stalls will also be a part of this event.

School wishing to participate must contact Andover Radio by email here.

Some photos from previous years:

Christmas Lights Switch On Andover
Merry: Christmas Lights

    

Andover Guildhall at Christmas 2016
Andover Guildhall at Christmas

 

 

About the author

David Harber

David Harber is the founder and Managing Director of Love Andover, including the Love Andover Observer newspaper and 95.9FM Andover Radio. He is a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and a card carrying member of the Nation Union of Journalists.