CHRISTMAS is coming to Cleethorpes early!
Three giant Norwegian spruce Christmas trees will light up the streets of the resort when they are switched on this Friday.
It is the first time in the resort's history there has been three trees, and members of Cleethorpes In Bloom, along with traders, are confident they will get shoppers, residents and visitors into the festive spirit.
The switch-on will start when the cast of this year's winter panto, Dick Whittington, at the Parkway Cinema, push the button at the base of the 22ft tree at Cleethorpes Memorial Hall at 6pm.
Cleethorpes In Bloom chairman Bob Callison said: "This is the first time we have had three trees in Cleethorpes and I think we could even be the only town in the region to do so.
"We are definitely getting into the Christmas spirit and we hope everyone else is, too.
"We had to do it slightly earlier this year because there is such demand for the larger trees and they can take up to 25 years to grow.
"We hope everyone will join us for the big switch-on. It has been hard work, but it is an exciting time for everyone."
It is the first time in 15 years that a tree has been put up at the Memorial Hall.
It will be blessed, followed by a procession of the crowd up Isaac's Hill to St Peter's Church, where celebrity singer Leroy Vickers will perform Christmas carols and switch on the lights of a 15-foot Norwegian spruce at 6.30pm. He will also illuminate the rest of St Peter's Avenue.
The procession will then meet the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Mike Burton, at High Cliff, who will switch-on the tree bought by the Seaview Street Traders Association (SSTA), with a little help from Cleethorpes In Bloom, North East Lincolnshire Council and McCanns Lighting Services.
Shops in Seaview Street will open until 8pm on Wednesday, December 5, and every Wednesday and Friday after that until Christmas.
On the night of the switch on, JKs will have a host of special offers on – with prices starting at £1 – and these will also run on every late shopping night.
Davinia Lacey, member of the SSTA and owner of JKs, said: "As soon as the tree goes up it feels so Christmassy.
"We have lots of new lights all the way down the street.
"We want it to be really special for everyone in Cleethorpes and the people who visit our shops.
"Our street has climbed the ranks in the last 15 years and is now where we want it to be.
"This will add to the character of the street at Christmas."
