Lord Mayor of York switches on Christmas tree lights

8:50am Friday 21st November 2008

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THE lights on a Christmas tree in the centre of York have been lit, as the festive season well and truly got under way in the city.

The 3,500 light bulbs on the 30-foot tall tree in St Helen’s Square were switched on by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Brian Watson, as dusk fell on the city.

The lights on the tree, sponsored by York-based charity St Leonard’s Hospice, which cares for people with life-threatening illnesses, will be on until Twelfth Night.

Almost 200 Christmas trees are being put up on brackets over seven streets in the city centre, and are expected to be lit at the weekend.

Meanwhile, late-night shopping on Thursday evenings will begin next week, lasting until December 18. The dozens of stores that are taking part will be open until at least 8pm on those days, with some trading until 9pm. All Park&Ride services will be extended on those evenings, with the last bus on all routes departing from the city centre at 9.30pm. A spokesman for Debenhams, which has had a sale on at its Davygate store in York since Wednesday, said: “The store’s been packed.

“We’ve had queues, and customers are responding very well to great offers.” The sale ends at 11pm today. Shoppers were yesterday also taking advantage of a sale at Marks & Spencer’s stores in York.

As well as the shops, there is also the Children’s Christmas Fayre, which will be held in Parliament Street, York, today, tomorrow and on Sunday, from 9am to 5pm. The fayre will boast toys, games, gifts and ideas for presents.

Next Thursday sees the arrival in York of the annual St Nicholas’s Fayre, which will have Victorian market stalls selling local produce to traditional gifts and crafts. The fayre will be on daily until November 30.