Truro lights up for famous festival
The spirits of the people of Truro soared skyward as the annual City of Lights Festival filled the streets with a warm glow.
Thousands of spectators from across Cornwall thronged the pavements as hundreds of locals of all ages paraded their Chinese-style paper lanterns past.
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And marching bands and dance groups, from salsa to booming bass drums, added to the carnival atmosphere.
The event also sparked the official start of the festive season in Truro, with the parade pausing in Boscawen Street for the Christmas lights switch on.
And it came to a close in spectacular style with a fireworks display viewed by hundreds who packed into Lemon Quay as the explosions burst into the night sky over Chapel Hill. Scores of others lined Morlaix Avenue for an elevated view while people could be seen watching from upstairs the windows of flats and offices everywhere.
The self-funded festival has grown in popularity for more than a decade, with dozens of schools and community groups holding their creations overhead along the route from the TA Centre in Moresk Road.
The internally-lit lanterns - measuring up to 20ft, depicted everything from moons and stars to a hippopotamus and human figure with jointed arms.
It is expected businesses will report booming trade from the evening as revellers filled restaurants and pubs and some shops made an early start to the late-night shopping season, which officially begins on Wednesday, when Santa will be pulled through the streets by real reindeer.
3 Comments
by Katya, Redruth
Tuesday, November 24 2009, 4:46PM
“The organisation of the event was very poor. It¿s such a shame because we were all looking forward to see the parade.
Whoever was organising this event need to get more experience, perhaps go to the bigger city and see what is it really should be like.
It¿s started 30 min late and there were NO MUSIC during the parade.
I know and I saw similar events before and it was wonderful!
Why can¿t they do it here? You don¿t have to have a massive budget; all you need is experience and use a little bit of imagination. Yes, of course the event organisers can argue other the fact of their poor organisation, and I am sure they can even supply lots of positive comments; there are no doubts about it, but my question is: have your residents been given a chose to see something else, something more professional? The answer is-NO, they have to except that poor organised performance-take what they have been given!
However we have enjoyed the displayed, some of them were absolutely SUPER: BBC, Falmouth Art University and others. Well done guys ¿ GREAT WORK!”
by Anthony Winter, TR10 8DB
Saturday, November 22 2008, 10:13AM
“I hope that the tradition carries on forever, to see it is wonderful. The joy in the faces of the children to me lovely. I amm disabled now and can only watch it only on spotlight. God Bless to them all.”
by Sara Pound, Truro
Friday, November 21 2008, 11:10AM
“It was wonderful to see Truro truly 'lit up' this year! City of lights procession stunning - they consistently come up with fascinating images .& work so hard, with the schools & colleges, whatever the weather! This year they got what they wanted - no rain! ....And at long last, The Big Boys (shopkeepers) got their disagreements sorted & finally we have a Christmas Tree & lights in Lemon Sq -
last year was dismal - if not depressing! Such a lift to the town......& enjoyment for all who visit - you dont have to spend to enjoy Truro .........the lights have it all! We all need a little magic - Well done to all those who worked so hard to make Wednesday night happen!”