Colne set for big switch on

Colne Town Council’s annual spectacular will start at 10am and run until the firework display at 7pm.

Coun. Ash Sutcliffe, Chairman of Colne Town Council’s Events Committee said: “We haven’t tinkered with a successful formula. There is still music, free entertainment and our food festival operating throughout the day and the whole thing culminates with our torch lit parade, which kicks off from The Crown at 5-30pm. That heralds the Christmas lights switch on, a carol service St Bart’s, more carols in Hartley Square with the Pendle Youth Orchestra, a mini show from Helen Green’s Dancing School and the fabulous fireworks at 7pm sharp. We still have a couple of surprises up our sleeve too...”

The timetable is:

10am - 7pm: Festive food and craft market on Parliament Street car park;

10am - 4pm: Free face painter with Sophie at Beautiful You in Colne Market Hall;

10am – 7pm: Fun fair rides in Hartley Square;

10am – noon: Tristesse James acoustic singing in the Market Arcade;

10-30am – 11-30am: Lord Street Primary School singing under the Market Canopy;

11am – 1pm: Darwen Brass playing under The Market Canopy;

11-30am – 1-45pm: Children’s Crafts in Colne Library;

Noon – 3-30pm: OakenHoof (Clog Dancers) performing in front of Colne Library;

1-30pm – 3-30pm: Pendle Jazz Men by the Glass Box at Colne Market Hall;

1pm – 5-30pm: Free donkey rides in Hartley Square;

2pm: Screening of the film “Nativity” at Colne Library;

4pm – 5pm: Burnley Brass Band under the Market Canopy;

5-30pm – 5-50pm: Torch lit parade led by Father Christmas in his sleigh, starting at The Crown Hotel and incorporating the Christmas lights switch on;

5-50pm – 6-15pm: Carols in St Bartholomew’s;

Finale in Hartley Square includes: 6-05pm – 6-20pm Helen Green’s Dancers;

6-30pm – 7pm: Pendle Youth Orchestra and Trawden Ladies’ Choir;

7pm: Firework finale.

Coun. Sarah Cockburn-Price, Chairman of Colne Town Council, said: “2016 has been a blur of events in Colne!

“We have invested in infrastructure, like the 12 gazebos we now own and we have doubled our budget by attracting private sponsorship and HLF grant funding.

“This has enabled us to deliver almost an event a month, including, three food festivals, a new summer music event, Picnic in the Park, Colne Commemorates and the grand prix. Roll on 2017!”