Looe Lights Up
A big thank you to everyone involved in staging the annual Lantern Procession and Christmas Lights Switch-on as well as the hundreds of people who came out in Looe on Friday 1st December for the event. The town really did LIGHT UP and it seems that a good time was had by all. Lots of planning goes into this event and many local organisations and individuals help to make it a highlight in our annual calendar: Thank you all.
Many of the lanterns were made at local free workshops which we arrange each year and are run by local artist Mark Gregory. This year the cost of materials was met through sponsorship from Holidaycottages.co.uk and Tencreek Holiday Park kindly hosted one of the workshops.
On the night, two lantern processions led by St Pinnock Band made their way from East Looe Seafront and the Millpool in West Looe to meet at Looe Bridge and make their way to the Quayside Centre for a Christmas service by Rev. Ben Morgan-Lundie as well as carol singing for all, a performance by Looe Primary Academy and, of course, the Big Lights Switch-on by the town’s Carnival Royalty. Mike Allsop (Liskeard Radio) kept the crowds entertained with Christmas music, and food and drink was available from stalls run by Hannafore Kiosk, Looe Fire Station and Looe Town Council staff. Santa arrived at the Quayside Centre on the Looe Land Train accompanied by Mrs Claus and their elves, and after greeting the crowds they made their way on the river ferry, courtesy of Ian Lewis, to East Looe for photos with children in the Rose Garden where local singer Juliette provided live entertainment. Many local businesses were open for late night shopping on Friday 1st and, as is usual in Looe, also made terrific efforts to decorate their premises and join in with lighting up the town.
The Mayor of Looe, Councillor Tony Smith, said “Our annual Lantern Parade and Christmas Lights Switch-on is always a fun event in Looe and we were delighted to see so many from the community joining in with processions and enjoying the festivities taking place in both East and West Looe. Lots of local organisations and individuals come together to make this event happen each year and I would like to sincerely thank all those involved, not least Looe Harbour Commissioners, East Looe Town Trust, Looe Lions and Looe Development Trust for their significant contributions to the night and to the wonderful illuminations in Looe. It would not, of course, be such a wonderful occasion without the great support from the local community so I’d also like to thank all those who took park in the evening and came together to Light Up Looe. I hope this continues to be an annual event in our town diary where we all come together to celebrate.”
