Local News

Medal winning stars start Banbury’s Christmas countdown

27/11/2023

School for Stars students join Mayor Fiaz Ahmed to turn on festive lights

Banbury’s golden girls brought Christmas to Banbury yesterday (Sunday) as they helped mayor Fiaz Ahmed switch on the town’s festive street lights.

Crowds cheered as the illuminations lit up the town centre in glorious colour.

The girls earned their day in the spotlight by winning gold medals in a prestigious international dancing competition in Portugal in July.

The switch-on followed a day of great music and exciting on and off-stage entertainment. Food and drink stalls and fairground rides provided added fun and excitement. Fireworks followed the switch-on.

Organised by Banbury Town Council, Christmas Lights Day is a popular annual event that attracts thousands of people and gives members of the public the chance to meet local champions.

This year’s switch-on golden girls are members of the Castle Quay-based School for Stars dancing academy who represented Team England in the highly-competitive Word Dance Cup held in Braga, Portugal, in the summer.

Amelia Thompson, 10, and Chloe Sneddon, 9, collected gold medals for a dance duet and at the lights switch-on had the honour of pushing the button following a traditional ten-to-one countdown.

Amelia said: “It is an honour to be invited to switch on this year’s Christmas lights.”

Cllr Ahmed said: “The switch-on signifies the start of the Christmas period in Banbury and the decorated streets provide a wonderful atmosphere for shoppers and visitors.

“I was honoured to be joined on stage by some young world champions who did Banbury proud at an important international competition earlier this year.”

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