Hundreds battle Storm Bert for Christmas lights switch on in Brampton

There had been a doubt whether the weather conditions would cause the event to be cancelled but the event went ahead as planned.

At lunch time on Sunday, November 24, Father Christmas arrived at the Howard Arms Hotel, but instead of his usual reindeer, his mode of transport, was the Thwaites Brewery Dray pulled by two shire horses.

Father Christmas in Brampton (Image: Paul Grindley) Then later in the afternoon, after a ‘monumental’ battle against the elements, the town’s Christmas lights switch on took place.

There was entertainment on the stage in the marketplace as well as fairground rides for the children and a variety of street food venders and stalls alongside the town’s own cafes and pubs.

There was a slight delay in proceeding as the camels, a long-standing tradition on switch on day, were delayed due to delays on the motorway, but just after 5pm, Front Street was packed as a parade made its way from the Showfield Car Par off Gelt Road to the Market Place.

(Image: Paul Grindley) The parade was led again by the LED drummers, making their second appearance after the proved popular last year. They were followed by the second appearance of the day by Father Christmas, this time in the Rotary club sleigh and bringing up the rear were the three camels.

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Then around 5.15pm the lights themselves were switched on by a local child whose name had been pulled from the hat earlier in the afternoon as is tradition in Brampton.

The Walton Young Farmers Club first ever Christmas tractor run also passed through the town shortly afterwards as well, with more than 50 tractors and a few other vehicles, decorated in Christmas lights.