Manx Telecom is to sponsor the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony in Douglas for the second year in succession.

Organised by Douglas Borough Council the event, which traditionally signals the ‘official’ start of Christmas, will take place on Thursday November 21.

In a change from previous years the setting for the ceremony will be the North Quay, with the staged area located by the Little Fish Café and Santa’s grotto adjacent to St Matthew’s Church in Lower Ridgeway Street.

Spectator access to this free event will be via North Quay or Lower Ridgeway Street.

Compèring the ceremony will be a team from the Council’s media partner 3FM. Douglas Town Band will open the proceedings at 6.15pm with seasonal music, to be followed by entertainment from the cast of the Gaiety Theatre’s pantomime Peter Pan at 6.30pm and, at 6.45pm, a performance by the Platform Theatre School Vocal Ensemble, who will be performing a medley of Christmas songs as well as their own version of The 12 Days of MANXMASS.

His Worship the Mayor Councillor Jonathan Joughin JP will then join the proceedings accompanied by Deacon Graham Priest who will offer prayers. Then, at 7.00pm, His Worship will switch on the Christmas lights, ‘snow’ will fall, Thursday late-night shopping begins…and Christmas comes to the capital.

Regeneration and Community Committee Chair Councillor Stephen Pitts said: ‘We are pleased that Manx Telecom has generously agreed to sponsor the Christmas lights ceremony for the second year in a row.

‘The location may have moved to the North Quay, but thanks to this welcome partnership with Manx Telecom, hard work of our officers and staff and cooperation from many others involved, the Christmas lights switch-on ceremony will, once again, provide a magical evening of family entertainment.’

A spokesman for Manx Telecom said: ‘Manx Telecom was proud to have supported last year’s successful, crowd-pleasing ceremony.  We are therefore delighted to sponsor this hugely popular community event for the second successive year and to be part of an occasion that sets the perfect festive mood for Christmas.’

Road closures will be in force as follows:

• North Quay between Ridgeway Street and the junction with Queen Street – from 7pm on Wednesday November 20 until 7am on Friday November 22.

Thursday, 21st November

•  Ridgeway Street between Lord Street and North Quay – from 5.45pm until 8pm.
•  North Quay from Ridgeway Street to a point opposite No.34 North Quay – from 5.45pm until 8pm.
• Heywood Place from Lord Street to North Quay – from 3pm until 8pm.

Suspension of parking

Thursday November 21: Ridgeway Street between Lord Street and North Quay – from 2pm to 8pm.

There will be free parking in Douglas Borough Council’s Shaw’s Brow and Bottleneck car parks from 5pm to 10pm on pre-Christmas Thursdays from November 21 and all day Saturday and Sunday until December 22. Additionally, Chester Street car park offers ‘free after three’ parking Monday to Friday and a flat rate of £2 for all-day Saturday parking.

Additionally, the Department of Infrastructure is providing free car parking in its car parks at Lord Street, Parade Street and the Tongue on Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday November 23 to Sunday December 29. There will also be free parking after 5pm in these three car parks.

This event is always well attended and for safety reasons the Council may have to restrict numbers.

For more details, contact Douglas Town Hall, 696300.