Gibraltar Christmas lights will be illuminated on November 20

WITH TV advertising for Christmas starting on November 1, everyone is reminded that Christmas is not so very far away.

The Gibraltar Cultural Services on behalf of the Ministry of Culture has announced that this year’s Festival of Lights will commence on Friday November 20, with a series of events organised by the Gibraltar Cultural Services and the Gibraltar Electricity Authority (GEA), which will be held at John Mackintosh Square.

There will be a wide range of entertainment, which will start at 5.30pm with an arts and craft market, performances from two choirs and a dance academy. At 7pm there will be a video presentation and the formal switch-on of the Christmas lights. There is a rumour that just prior to a performance by the Sea Scouts pipe and drum band at 7.15pm, there will be a visit by a jolly white bearded gentleman in a red suit accompanied by two elves.

It is planned that the illuminations will be turned on between 5pm and 1am every day until January 6. On the Saturdays leading up to Christmas Day the lights will be on from 9.30am. As customary they will remain on throughout the nights of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and January 5.

The number of entries for the annual Three Kings parade are rather down on previous years but it is hoped that the number may increase, and that quality will be better than quantity for the floats that do participate.