Norfolk town is looking a lot like Christmas after county’s first lights switch-on

Around 3,000 people packed the streets of the historic north Norfolk town on Wednesday for an evening of entertainment, building up to the lights switch-on itself, carried out by Father Christmas.

Jamie Perry, Holt Lights Group leader, said: 'It was a brilliant event. The weather was on our side which was great for the fireworks.

'A good measure of success of a lights switch-on is when people stick around afterwards, and they certainly did that here.

'There was a really lovely, communal atmosphere which was exactly what we were aiming for.'

A scene from the Holt Christmas lights switch-on in 2018. Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

BBC Norfolk's Nick Conrad and Helen McDermott compered the proceedings, and there were performances by Holt's Methodist Church choir, the Holt Community Primary School choir and bands the Walks and the Lighters .

A procession was led by the Thursford pipes, and also featured a series of animal lanterns - including a badger, a fox and a hare - brought along by the Fairyland Trust.

Another highlight was a pantomime horse race, held for the fourth year, which was won by a team from Holt's Byfords shop and cafe.

Jason Denison won a best fancy dress competition for his portrayal of Maleficent, and Hazel Richards, who dressed as Princess Sophia, won a children's section.

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

Lights team member Colin Rawlings said: 'I think it was the best attended evening we've ever had. There was almost a medieval atmosphere after it got dark and the light came on.'

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)

A scene from the 2018 Holt Christmas lights switch on, which took place on November 16. Picture: RODNEY SMITH (Image: Copyright:Rodney Smith)