Bolton: Christmas light switch-ons taking place this year

The traditional big light switch on in Bolton town centre has been cancelled to be replaced by the 'Put Big Light On' festival, inspired by the Northern Lights.

District towns will be hosting a traditional light switch on to mark the start of Christmas.

Horwich will be hosting its countdown to Christmas on December 1 this year, with new festive lights.

The scene after the Town Mayor of Horwich, cllr Sue Butterworth, switched on the town's Christmas tree lights at The Crown roundabout, in December 1982. The band and choir from St Joseph's Secondary School, Horwich, played and sang carols. (Image: Newsquest)

Mayor of Horwich, Cllr David Grant, said: "It has been redesigned and looks amazing, the lights are going up mid-November and the official switch-on of them in Horwich will be December 1.

"We are going to have amazing new lights. It is a very popular event in the town, they have to close the roads off."

He added: "We are looking forward to adding to them with new lights elsewhere in the town centre.

"We have them on Lee Lane and Winter Hey Lane, but the town centre is a triangle and we want to complete it." 

Horwich's 2018 Christmas light switch-on

There will also be a Christmas light switch-on in Westhoughton this year.

Cllr David Chadwick of Westhoughton South said: "There will be Christmas lights on Mill Street, Market Street, as well as parts of Wigan Road and Cricketers Way.

"We will have the live Christmas tree in Ditchfield Gardens at the bottom end of Market Street. The switch-on will be on the last Friday in November.

"There will be the annual Christmas carol service put on by the town council with school choirs then too."

Christmas lights in Little Lever last year (Image: Newsquest)

Little Lever is another town that will be holding a switch-on.

Cllr Liam Barnard of Little Lever and Darcy Lever said: "We are planning to do a Christmas tree, as the one we used to use is on private land.

"We are doing a Christmas light switch-on at the Memorial Gardens."

Cllr Barnard said they don't yet have a date, but that the switch-on will be around early December. The new Christmas tree will be planted in mid-October. 

Bromley Cross will also be hosting a switch-on. 

Ward councillor Amy Cowen said: "We are doing one, I am not sure of the precise date at the moment, but it is usually the last Sunday of November or first Sunday of December. 

FLASHBACK: Santa meets visitors to the Farnworth Christmas Lights Switch On in 2018

"But we will definitely be doing one at the war memorial on Blackburn Road. 

"That is where the Christmas tree light switch-on will be. We will also have a Father Christmas grotto at Walmsley Church Hall and we will have mince pies, it will be a lovely event."

There will also potentially be a switch-on in Farnworth this year. 

Farnworth South councillor Champak Mistry said: "We are waiting for the local authority to find out when can sort out the installation. We should find out in couple of weeks time. 

"People get excited and look forward to it. With the new development now taking place, we need more people coming in. 

"The location may change because of the development in the town centre. But it should hopefully be in its usual place on Market Street as we do every year."