A BBC TV presenter and a local author will be switching on Burnham-On-Sea’s Christmas lights for the festive season today (Saturday, November 24th).
Somerset-based Martin Roberts, who presents the popular BBC1 series ‘Homes under the Hammer’, will be joining local author Damien Boyd on stage to switch on Burnham’s Christmas lights during a special afternoon of festive entertainment.
Martin Roberts has presented the hit BBC property auction show ‘Homes under the Hammer’ for 14 years and in 2016 he entered the Australian jungle for ITV’s “I’m a Celebrity…Get me out of here!”. He was also a regular presenter on ITV’s travel show ‘Wish You Were Here..?’ for 8 years.
An afternoon of free entertainment will be held outside the Victoria Hotel in Burnham leading up to the lights switch-on, featuring local community groups, schools and music groups. Father Christmas is also due to arrive at around 4pm, handing out free surprises!
There will also be a Christmas market with a dozen stalls set up along Victoria Street from mid-day, offering a wide range of festive products. A face painter, refreshments and Christmas donkeys will also by part of the line-up.
The entertainment will get underway at 1pm with Burnham’s St Andrew’s School singing, followed at 1.30pm by Lisa Jane School of Dance.
Burnham’s Mudlarks community choir will be on stage from 2.00pm, followed at 2.30pm by Brent Knoll School Choir and from 2.55pm the local singers Leah Norton, Emily Thomas and Dennis Salmon.
At 3.25pm, there will be a performance by ‘Amy Outhouse’ Becky Hewlitt, and at 4.00pm Father Christmas will arrive on a land train!
Burnham and Highbridge Town band will perform from 4.15pm and they will be followed at 4.50pm by the Coastline Singers. From 5.15pm, hear Dusica Roberts perform a festive set of music.
The big lights switch-on will take place at 6.00pm. At 6.10pm, Burnham On Song will end the event with traditional festive songs to get the Christmas season underway.
The event is being organised by Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade and will be led by local radio presenter Dave Engelfield.
“It promises to be a superb event to mark the official start of Burnham’s Christmas season,” said a Burnham Chamber of Trade spokesman.
“We’re delighted to have Martin in town to light up the town centre for the festive season and support our local businesses.”
Several shops will be staying open later – Chatterbox will offer free mince pies with hot drinks, The Princess Arts Lounge, Burrs will offer a free sausage bite or homemade cookie with every tea/coffee/cold drink, Material Needs and Sea Breeze.
Please note that all times are approximate and are subject to change at short notice.
Also see:
What’s on in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge
