It's Christmas all over Lambeth!

It's Christmas all over Lambeth!

18 November 2008

Town centres across Lambeth will enjoy a magical visit from Santa this year as Lambeth’s Christmas lights are switched on in style on 1 December.

The council with its partners will once again be ensuring that the borough has a festive spirit by lighting up the borough with magical Christmas lights and trees, decorating town centres from Waterloo in the north to Streatham and Norwood in the south.

Santa will be touring the borough on 1 December on an open top bus accompanied by the Mayor of Lambeth for the big switch on.

Local school children will be leading the festive fun at each location with carol singing, festive fare, goodie bags and much more.

The bus will be accompanied by a magical Christmas float touring the borough and will be stopping off at Kennington, Clapham, Brixton, Herne Hill, Norwood and Streatham.

The Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Angela Meader, will have help to switch on the Christmas tree lights at each location in what promises to be a fantastic night of Christmas fun. Timings will be announced next week and all residents are invited to join the fun.

The council is encouraging residents to support Lambeth businesses this Christmas by buying presents and Christmas goods locally. The bus will be promoting the joint messages of ‘Peace in Lambeth this Christmas' and 'Lambeth Businesses Welcome Your Support This Christmas.'

A traditional German Christmas market will be another one of Lambeth’s Christmas highlights this year.

The Cologne market will bring an authentic taste of Germany to the Southbank from 10.00am to 10.00pm seven days a week from 21 November - 23 December, filling the air with the aroma of mulled wine and gingerbread.

The market along Queen's Walk (between the London Eye and the Southbank Centre) will see around 30 authentically decorated wooden chalets selling a wide range of unique hand-crafted gifts and unusual Christmas presents such as wooden and tin toys and delicate glass Christmas tree ornaments. It has been organised by the South Bank Employers' Group, and supported by Lambeth Council.

Visitors will be able to sip warming "Glühwein" (German Mulled Wine), enjoy a famous German Bratwurst, a "Kölsch" (famous Cologne beer) and nibble on roasted nuts, gingerbread hearts, and many other delicious treats.

As well as shopping, there will be a carousel in the centre of the Christmas Market with traditional Christmas music. Children will be able to Meet Santa Claus or decorate an edible gingerbread card with Mrs Claus at Santa's Secret Village.

Councillor Mark Bennett, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport on Lambeth Council, said:

"We are determined to support Lambeth shops and businesses by making sure our town centres have a real Christmas sprit, and the big switch on promises to be a fantastic evening and I encourage people to come along.

"The German market promises to bring a magical atmosphere to the Southbank and it will certainly offer something a bit different this Christmas. The Southbank is one of London’s top attractions and is the perfect setting for this market and I for one am really looking forward to seeing what it has to offer.

The traditional Cologne Christmas Market runs from 21 November – 23 December 2008 from 10.00am to 10.00pm along Queen’s Walk (between the London Eye and the Southbank Centre). It is open seven days a week.