Gosport transformed for Christmas as town's festive lights are switched on '“ with silent fireworks and fake snow too!'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹

THE WEATHER might have been damp but spirits were still high at one town centre's Christmas lights switch-on.
The audience watch the fireworks whilst sprayed with snow.

Picture: Keith WoodlandThe audience watch the fireworks whilst sprayed with snow.

Picture: Keith Woodland
The audience watch the fireworks whilst sprayed with snow. Picture: Keith Woodland

The rain didn't stop friends and families gathering in Lawrence Square to watch Gosport's town centre light up on Saturday evening '“ with live entertainment act ABBA Rival thanking locals for turning out despite the weather.

Shoppers enjoyed live entertainment from 3pm underneath their umbrellas before New Theatre Royal panto star Hannah McIver, who is starring as Wendy Darling in Peter Pan, turned the lights on with the mayor of Gosport, councillor Diane Furling.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Once the lights and Christmas tree had been switched on there was a low-noise firework display.

The audience at the Gosport lights switch-on gets sprayed with snow. Picture: Keith WoodlandThe audience at the Gosport lights switch-on gets sprayed with snow. Picture: Keith Woodland
The audience at the Gosport lights switch-on gets sprayed with snow. Picture: Keith Woodland

Becky Jalban, from Gosport, took her daughter Evangeline, six and son Jacob, 11 to the event.

She said: '˜We're really loving it '“ we come every single year.

'˜This time there's entertainment after the fireworks which is nice.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'˜Evangeline doesn't like fireworks that are loud so it's really good they've got a silent display.'

Abba Rival perform at the Gosport Christmas lights switch-on event. Picture: Keith WoodlandAbba Rival perform at the Gosport Christmas lights switch-on event. Picture: Keith Woodland
Abba Rival perform at the Gosport Christmas lights switch-on event. Picture: Keith Woodland

The leader of Gosport Borough Council, Councillor Mark Hook, took his two young grandchildren to the lights switch-on and said he thought the set-up was fantastic, praising all the families who made it a success by going along in the rain.

As well as ABBA Rival, residents enjoyed performances from The Bedenham School Makaton Choir, The Gosport Shed Choir and Ukulele Band, The Reilly Enterprise Character Show with John Reilly, St John's School Choir and Peter Pan performers.