Christmas arrived in Darlington with a wild crowd and festive cheer as thousands gathered in the Market Square to watch the annual light switch on for 2025.
Hits Radio presenters Steve Furnell and Karen Oxley compered the event again as performers took to the stage to keep the crowd entertained in the hour-long build-up to the light show.
Michael Buble hasn't quite defrosted yet, so Adam Parker Brown stepped up to open the event, belting out Buble classics such as Haven't Met You Yet, Feelin' Good and of course, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).
Steve and Karen kept the crowd entertained with festive games, and a Christmas dinosaur was spotted stomping through the crowds, for a rawsome treat for the children.
Princesses, Elphaba and Glinda and newcomers for this year, Huntrix, were next to take the stage. Elphaba gave a wicked performance of Defying Gravity, members of the demon pop band the Saja Boys tried to steal the crowd's souls with a performance of Your Idol, before Huntrix saved the day with an epic performance of Golden, sealing the honmoon just before Santa and his reindeer arrived.
Then it was almost the moment Darlington was waiting for. The crowd fell silent, and Santa and his ever-faithful reindeer made their way to the stage to press the big red button along with the Grinch, who decided not to steal Christmas this year.
A quick countdown from ten, and Christmas began in Darlington. The crowd cheered as fireworks lit up the sky in a two-minute-long display, and a chorus of All I Want for Christmas Is You was belted throughout the market square.
And as quickly as it started, it was all over, and the crowds began to return home, to no doubt put the heating on and warm up after a cold, but festive evening.
Christmas is well and truly underway in Darlington.
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