FAMILIES flocked to see in the festive season with the big Christmas lights switch-on in Bicester town centre.

Three winners of the town’s snowflake treasure hunt competition performed the big switch-on with town Mayor Lynn Pratt, on Thursday night.

They were Ella Gibbons, seven, from Langford School, Dale Girling, eight, from King’s Meadow School, and Alisha Jenkins, five, from Southwold School.

Alisha, from Launton, said: “I was very excited to get to turn all the lights on with the Mayor. I also got a kitty cat bike and a certificate.”

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The treasure hunt, set up by Bicester Town Council, challenged children to find snowflakes in shop windows. Winners were rewarded with a bike each, and all entrants will receive a little prize. The switch-on event featured fairground rides, Christmas food stalls, a fire breathing display, carols and Father Christmas himself.

Elite Dance & Theatre Tuition and the choirs of Brookside School, St Mary’s School, and King’s Meadow School, as well as local singer Jamie Felton and opera star Rejieli Paulo also performed.

Oxford Mail:

A festive crowd gathers for the Bicester Christmas lights switch-on ceremony

Mum-of-two Samantha Ponsford, from Ravencroft, said: “This is the first year we have taken the children, Molly, three, and George, two, down to see the lights get switched on. We have been before without the children and there is always lots going on but this year is much more of an event.”

  • See Monday’s Oxford Mail for switch-on ceremonies at Witney, Wantage and Wallingford.

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