Up to 6,000 people were in Spalding’s Market Place on Sunday as Santa Claus, MP John Hayes and Flower Queen Inca Honnor switched on the Christmas lights at the end of a spectacular day’s entertainment.
Santa and Inca arrived on a sleigh and the South Holland and The Deepings MP and his family in a coach supplied by Gordon Boswell.
Shoppers enjoyed live music from the sound stage and seamless hosting from Tulip Radio’s Chris Carter and Jan Whitbourn as folk acts and bands lined up to entertain.
Eight schools took part in the choirs competition, which was won by St John’s Primary.
Classic car enthusiasts had a show on Sheep Market and dog owners queued up to enter their pets in a fun show with wonderful prizes donated by town centre and Holland Market traders.
Festive music filled the air from Spalding Brass, Kirton Brass and Spalding Marching Ambassadors and there was fun from the SADOS cast of Hi-de-Hi and the South Holland Centre Christmas panto cast.
Jan¶ Whitbourn said: “The best thing was the whole community coming out, taking part and enjoying themselves and helping – the people who were helping were amazing.”
• See tomorrow’s Lincolnshire Free Press for more pictures from the lights switch-on.