My home is a resolutely Christmas-free zone at least until December. Not so for our town centres, which milk the season as a commercial enterprise and switch on the lights before the end of November. I happened to need to pop into Shipley anyway, which coincided with the Shipley lights celebration. I was pleased to see that, now the market square has been expensively revamped, they have eschewed the silly modern tree they've had for a few years (just a few wires and lights) in favour of a real fir tree - and it looked quite pretty. So did the banners dotted around the square.
There were masses of people milling around, with market stalls selling Christmassy items and advertising local groups and services. One was a local amateur dramatic group, Drama Unlimited, which has been performing shows since 1977. They were colourfully dressed to promote their production of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', coming to Bingley Arts Centre in February.
The Kirkgate Centre has a herd of reindeer on its roof. I'm sure they'll thrill the little ones coming to the nursery next door.
I got a kick out of seeing unexpected Goldilocks! So happy to see a real tree, and the banners and reindeer are also cheerful. A good lighting experience after dark!
ReplyDeleteI am with you on no Christmas until December, sadly it even applies to mince pies.
ReplyDeleteI wait until December too.
ReplyDeleteI start decorating for the 1st Advent weekend and then add a bit more each weekend until Christmas. Put my window lights up today.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! Goldilock looks great - but she must have been freezing in those short sleeves!
ReplyDeleteLike Monica, I decorate only for the 1st Advent weekend, not before. Since I won't be home this weekend, I will only put up the absolute essentials and then gradually add to it over the coming week.