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Golden Square Christmas lights switch-on to go virtual

Wed 18 Nov 2020

A CHRISTMAS lights switch-on ceremony will still be taking place at Golden Square – albeit virtually – thanks to the help of hundreds of Warrington schoolchildren.

As anticipated, the Golden Square team have had to abandon the switch-on event in its usual format due to the lockdown.

But shopping centre director Ian Cox said he was determined to find a way to spread some much-needed cheer after an extremely challenging year.

What will happen instead is a virtual lights switch-on which takes its inspiration from the Will Ferrell film, Elf.

Children from 16 primary schools have recorded themselves singing 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' and during the event on Friday, November 27, their voices will all come together to 'power up' Golden Square's Christmas lights from 6pm.

Families will be able to watch the ceremony live from the comfort and safety of their homes via social media with further details to come soon.

Ian said: "This year has been a difficult and challenging year for many families in Warrington. The impact Covid-19 has had on our communities has been immeasurable and our children have been real unsung heroes with how they have coped throughout this unsettling and turbulent time.

"Due to the current circumstances, like many towns and cities across the UK, Golden Square had to make the difficult decision to cancel our annual Christmas light switch-on event in its usual format.

"But we will be doing something very special involving hundreds of school children across Warrington, and hopefully the rest of Warrington will join in too to make it extra special.
 

"We still wanted to celebrate the magic of Christmas for the families in our community and were inspired by the Christmas film loved by many, Elf.

"Buddy the Elf spends his time inspiring others to believe in the magic of Christmas, with the best way to spread Christmas cheer of course being singing loud for all to hear.

"We reached out to all our Warrington schools to see if they would help us on this quest. So to power up the Golden Square Christmas lights this year we are going to use Christmas spirit."
 

Former Hollyoaks star and Stockton Heath resident Darren Jeffries is currently in the process of creating the video through his Ludovico Studio.

He said: “The team and I at Ludovico have loved this project from the start, and the Christmas cheer from the kids during filming really has been something else. We can’t wait to share it with the rest of Warrington."

Ian added: "We believe the power of Christmas cheer is needed more than ever and what a wonderful way to celebrate together.

"When played we hope the power of singing will generate enough Christmas spirit to turn on the Golden Square Christmas lights, but just in case we would like the rest of Warrington to join in and create a special night at home with their families.

"Golden Square believes – do you?"

THE SCHOOLS INVOLVED

  • St Bridget's
  • Sacred Heart
  • Barrow Hall
  • Latchford St James
  • Bewsey Lodge
  • Birchwood C of E
  • Christ Church Padgate
  • Newchurch Primary
  • Oughtrington Primary
  • Penketh South Primary 
  • St Albans Catholic Primary
  • St Peters Catholic primary
  • St Thomas' Stockton Heath
  • Statham Community Primary
  • Winwick C of E
  • Woolston Primary