 I love Cirencester, it's a fantastic place. | | Melinda Messenger |
Eight thousand people swarmed into Cirencester Market Place to see celebrity guest Melinda Messenger switch on the Christmas lights and officially herald the start of the festive season. Actress and model Melinda is often spotted shopping in the town and was honoured to be asked to perform the lighting up ceremony;
"I love Cirencester, it's a fantastic place, and we're just up the road so I thought it would be good fun", she said. Family affair It was a family affair for Melinda who was accompanied by husband Wayne, their three children, Evie, Morgan and Flynn Jefferson as well as Melinda's Mum, Avis.  | | All smiles from Melinda |
In just a few years the Advent Market and the Christmas lights ceremony have become a permanent fixture in the town's calendar and have grown to become Cirencester's biggest community event of the year. As artificial snow showered the Market Place, The Cirencester Salvation Army Band and the Church Choir entertained the crowds with Christmas carols. Festive feeling Euphonium player, Peter Grace, joined the Salvation Army Band in 1962. He said: "The music gives a special festive feeling. A brass band of some sort in the open air always makes a difference". | The music gives a special festive feeling. A brass band of some sort in the open air always makes a difference. | | Peter Grace |
Then BBC Radio Gloucestershire presenter Vernon Harwood encouraged the audience to countdown from ten to one, and Melinda pressed the plunger which illuminated both the Christmas Tree and the thousands of bulbs strung around the town. Vernon said: "Christmas isn't Christmas until Cirencester says so! We've had a lovely crisp night, the crowd are loud & lively and the place is bursting with colour - the perfect ingredients for Advent Market". Memorable day The lights switch-on was the highlight of a memorable day which began at 8.00am.  | | Father Christmas greets the 8,000 strong crowd |
For the first time the Advent Market was an all-day event with the town centre transformed to accommodate fairground rides, the Festive Farmers' Market in the morning and the hugely popular Advent Market stalls later in the day. The Market Place was dominated by an enormous stage featuring live acts including local band Santa's Little Helpers, Siddington Primary School Choir and Cirencester Town Band. Festive fun But the entertainment wasn't just confined to the Market Place. The festive fun included Morris dancing at the Woolmarket, children's entertainers at the Wheatsheaf Inn, a party in Castle Street with an Irish band and Chinese lion dancing. | We've got a really good party atmosphere going. | | Lizzie Pearson |
There were also story tellers at Brewery Court, carol singers and a special Christmas quiz at the Corinium Museum, Father Christmas and his grotto in Bingham House, and street entertainers including an eight foot snowman and a fire-eater! Party atmosphere Lizzie Pearson who runs 'Willow' in Castle Street said: "We've got a really good party atmosphere going. All the traders should really benefit with the event being held through the day and the tills will start rattling for Christmas".
The Advent Market was 12 months in the planning and was a joint venture between the Chamber of Commerce, the Town Council, the Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard, and BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
 | | Vernon Harwood and the Mayor Deryck Nash in ridiculous get-up! |
Last year another famous local resident grabbed all the attention. Actress Elizabeth Hurley switched on the lights in 2003. Look back at Liz's guest appearance with our picture gallery: ADVENT MARKET 2003
But which star will be doing the honours next year? When the news breaks we'll let you know on the BBC Gloucestershire website and on BBC Radio Gloucestershire - 95FM (Stroud), 95.8FM (Cirencester), 104.7FM and 1413AM. Cirencester Chamber of Commerce
Cirencester Town Council
Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard
Cirencester website
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Melinda Messenger came to the Cotswolds at the weekend to switch on Cirencester's Christmas lights.
