Dozens show support for Fakenham’s Christmas Lights Switch-on despite freezing temperatures

The cold weather did not deter dozens who packed out a town's market place to watch as its festive lights were switched on at the weekend.

Donkeys, live entertainment and more than 20 food and craft stalls were part of Fakenham’s Christmas lights event on Saturday, organised by the town’s events committee.

Although the temperatures reached freezing lows of minus two degrees, people remained in good spirits and ready for the festivities.

Starting at 10am, the event was kickstarted by a crafts fayre, followed by entertainment, which began at 1pm.

The lights were then switched on just before 6pm by six-year-old Riley Colk.

Riley had won a competition in which 20 elves were hidden in the shop windows of town businesses, and children had to find them all to be put into the prize draw.

In addition to stalls and a live stage, Karen Rust from Great Massingham-based Miniature Donkeys for Therapy and Fun attended with her four-legged friends Maizy, Chocky and Lulu.

Karen said: “We’ve found that this has been brilliant, everyone has come round to see the donkeys and the children are loving it because they don't get the chance to get up close to an animal like this very often.

“They’ve been getting cuddles and having their photos taken, it’s been lovely.”

Firefighters from Fakenham fire station were also in attendance, telling people about the work they do, how to stay safe this winter, and showing children the fire engines.

Suzie Sharp, a member of the Fakenham Events Committee, said: “We are a small group of four people, and this is the fifth lights switch-on that we've organised.

“Everyone is having fun, but I think this is the coldest one we’ve run yet – we’ve been here since 7.30am to help with the set-up, it’s a lot of work and it takes us all year to get it together.

“We’re also hoping to bring back the town carnival in the summer, fingers crossed.”

Charity buckets were also making their rounds, with elves raising money for the events committee, and the Rotary Club of Fakenham gathering cash for the community first responders.

FADLOS, the Fakenham and District Light Operatic Society, ended the evening with some performances of songs from their pantomime Beauty and The Beast as well as some Christmas classics too, before inviting Riley on stage to do the honours.

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