The traditional start to Christmas festivities in Barton, the Christmas Festival,  takes place this Saturday (28th November).

Switching on the town’s Christmas Lights at 6.15pm will be the Mayor of Barton, Cllr John Oxley assisted by the two primary school competition winners, Eva-Jean Marshall and Stevie Eayres.  They will be ably supported by Barton’s two World Champions, Sean Blackburn and Matthew Richardson.  Sean became Double World Champion for Bench Pressing in the 190kg category at the Global Powerlifting Committee (GPC) World Championships held in Las Vegas earlier this year while Matthew has become the first ever winner of the Para-Skeleton World Cup in Utah USA.  Matthew whose feet were shattered by a landmine in Helmand Province in 2008 was able to take part with support from Help For Heroes to train in skeleton, which is similar to bobsleigh.

The Festival itself opens at 1pm and concludes at 7pm  and there will be stalls on George Street and High Street; children’s rides in King Street, and a performance stage on the High Street where various acts will perform.

There will also be indoor crafts in the Joseph Wright Hall (formerly known as the Salvation Army Citadel), a Victorian Market in Cobblers at 102 High Street, crafts at the White Swan and picture with Santa as well as a Christmas Tree Festival at Trinity Methodist Chapel on Holydyke.

The Community Parade leaves The Ropewalk at 3pm led as usual by the team of six reindeer pulling Father Christmas on his sleigh. The Lantern Parade will also leave The Ropewalk at 5.00pm and terminate near the stage.

This will be followed by the Carol Service at the Christmas Tree on High Street, led by the Salvation Army with the Christmas lights switched by the Mayor and his special guests.