A big thank you to Ed Jenkins for capturing the moment.

Lanterns and Lights - photo: Becca Pullen

A sea of beautiful lanterns greeted Father Christmas as he took to the stage to switch on the 2010 Mill Road Lights. Rousing music from Arco Iris and hot food and drink from Andrew Northrop and Otto’s Cafe helped warm up the crowds.

The tree opposite St Barnabas Church is now lit up with 6,500 bulbs, and we hope it brings festive cheer to all visitors to Mill Road.

We hope you enjoyed the Switch On. If you took any photos then please email them to us: david@millroadfestivelights.co.uk

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the event possible.

There is a lantern making workshop for kids, Father Christmas, food and craft stalls, Christmas music and the Big Countdown at 5 o’clock.

For full details and a map of the action, pick up a free copy of our booklet all around Mill Road, or download it here (1.1MB):  Free Switch On Booklet

Over the weekend of 23^rd/24^th October, volunteers put up the 30 snowflake lights which will brighten up Mill Road over the festive period.

The Switch On will take place on Saturday 20^th November. There will be a lantern making workshop for kids, Christmas music, Father Christmas and a Christmas market with festive goodies and hot food and drink.

Christmas Switch On – Saturday 20th November

The Mill Road Lights will be switched on at 5pm on Saturday 20th November. There will be Christmas music, free activities for children, hot food and drink and much more! Keep an eye on our website for more details nearer the time.

Volunteer weekend – 23th/24th October

As Mill Road Lights is a community initiative, we are asking volunteers to help put the snowflake lights up this year. However much or little time you can spare, you will be very welcome to join us, and full training will be given. No experience is necessary! We are also very keen to hear from anybody who is already qualified to operate a cherry picker or to place signs and cones on the Highway.

Help us plan the 2010 Lights and the Switch On

We always need more people to help us choose the lights and plan the Switch On event. Behind the scenes there is also secretarial, publicity and fundraising work to be done.

Get in touch!

If you have any ideas for the lights or if you want to get involved, then ring David Hollingsbee on 07929 846667, email us on david@millroadfestivelights.co.uk or call into Cutlacks and speak to the manager, Steve Wynn.

• Switch On will be on Saturday 20th November
• Mill Road leads the City, as the rest of Cambridge’s lights will come on the following day.
• Volunteers (not expensive contractors) will put the snowflake lights up this year – let us know if you want to help!
• The new committee is looking for someone to act as secretary

David Hollingsbee’s photo-filled presentation covered activities at last year’s Christmas Switch On, how the project started, publicity, energy efficiency and financial information. To download a copy, please click here: AGM 2010 Presentation.

To see the full AGM minutes click here: AGM 2010 Minutes

What did you think of Mill Road’s first ever Christmas Switch On last year?

What Lights do you want to see in 2010?

The Mill Road Festive Lights Association will be holding its first AGM at 7pm on Tuesday 29th June at Ross Street Community Centre – see map below.

Everyone is welcome to come along, and free refreshments will be provided.

There will be a review of the first ever Mill Road Lights last year, and you can help us decide how and when we switch the Lights on this year – plus what new Lights you want to see for 2010.

We will also be electing officers to the committee, and we are looking to the local community to get involved. As well as the job of putting the Lights up and planning the Switch On, we need people to speak to Mill Road traders, and we also need help with fundraising and publicity. If you live near Mill Road, or if you care about the area, then we want to hear from you!

Please help us publicise this event by passing this information on, or print off our poster and put it in your windows: AGM poster 2010

To see the full AGM agenda, click here: Festive Lights – 2010 AGM Agenda

To read the proposed constitution, click here: FestiveLightsProposedConstitution

Location of Romsey & Ross Street Community Centre

David Hollingsbee, organiser of the Lights said: “As well as the job of putting the Lights up and planning the Switch On, we need people to speak to Mill Road traders, and we also need help with fundraising and publicity. If you live near Mill Road, or if you care about the area, then we want to hear from you!”

Anyone who thinks they can spare some time to get involved should either contact us through this website, or call into Cutlacks on Mill Road and speak to the manager, Steve Wynn.