Pictures: Barnstaple Christmas Lights Switch On 2023

Christmas has officially kicked off in Barnstaple as thousands gathered for the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights last night (Thursday).

This year the switch on was carried out by Jade Kingdom, who has raised tens of thousands for North Devon Hospice by taking on Olympic standard triathlons and endurance challenges.

Pictures courtesy of AW Photographic

The town’s big Christmas celebration was organised by Barnstaple Town Council and Barnstaple Town Centre Management, with numerous events taking place around the town, including Santa at the Guildhall, stalls and sideshows on the Strand, a Christmas train and festive crafts at Queen Anne’s Café.

But as ever, it was to the Square where everyone headed for the festive entertainment, building up to the switch on at 6pm.

It was all compered by The Voice FM, joined by Stagecoach Performing Arts, Newport School Choir, Barnstaple Male Voice Choir and the stars of this year’s Queen’s Theatre pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, plus tunes from DJ bunnynotbonnie.

Then to tremendous applause and cheers, Jade stepped up to officially switch on Barnstaple’s lights for 2023.

Her fundraising exploits are becoming legendary, enough to tax anyone, but Jade also lives with Down Syndrome too – not that she lets that hinder her.

After the celebrations, she took to Facebook to say: “Great fun tonight switching on the Barnstaple Christmas Lights.

“Thank you to Barnstaple Town Council for giving me the honour, thank you to everyone who made tonight happen and most of all… THANK YOU to the crowd who came out to support the event.

“You were amazing and I felt like a mega star!”