A new Christmas lights switch-on event happening in south Liverpool this weekend

Gateacre is going to be having its first ever Christmas lights switch-on this weekend.

The one in neighbouring Woolton regularly attracts thousands, with families packing out the village to meet Santa, watch entertainment and see the tree lights turned on.

Now Gateacre Village will have its own festive centrepiece after a real tree was planted on the green and decorated by Friends of Gateacre.

Although the event, like the tree itself, is starting off small-scale, organisers hope it will become a popular date in the community’s calendar.

Local Councillor Kris Brown put forward the idea for a permanent tree after others had to be chopped down.

He explains: “Two trees had to be felled because they were sick and people were disappointed that they had gone so I’ve made a concerted effort to get more around the area over the last year, working with The Mersey Forest.

“In addition to those we thought we could get a Christmas tree, similar to Woolton’s but instead of it being a temporary real one like we have there, it made sense to get a real one that’s permanent.

“We’ve teamed up again with The Mersey Forest who are match-funding and providing the tree, and we’ve had a Nordic Fir tree installed.

“It’s currently about 2.5metres tall, but the plan is that it will grow each year up to about 30ft over the next 15 years. It’ll be there all year round to be enjoyed as a fir tree and then we can dress it for Christmas.

“With the Friends of Gateacre, who already do a lot of planting, we’ve put some lights on the tree, one of the volunteers has made a light-up star and we’ll have lots of homemade decorations ready for the switch-on.

“As this is our first one it’s only a small event, we’re expecting about 200 people, but lots of businesses are also doing their own thing as part of it. The Black Bull, which is right next door, has got carol singers and lots of different family entertainment so it should be a great way to bring everyone together.”

Kris says it’s an opportunity to make the most of the green too by having something that appeals to all ages.

“I think we under-utilise some of our green spaces for things like this, especially the smaller green spaces, when we could be enjoying them in different ways, not just as dog walking areas.

“People are keen on having more community events they can get involved in post-Covid, and lots of people go to the switch-on in Woolton, but this one will be for Gateacre so everyone’s really excited about it.”

The switch-on this Saturday, November 23, will be between 5pm and 6pm when Santa will light up the tree and there’ll be free face painting for kids.

Next Saturday, November 30, Kris will be turning his attention to Woolton Village’s switch-on which he helps to organise with fellow councillor Malcolm Kelly.

That event, which has become the second biggest in the city with crowds of more than 2,000, will feature entertainment on stage from 1.30pm.

Students from LIPA will perform, along with the Singing Our Socks off choir and singer Carly Morris plus Santa will be there in his grotto. Children in the crowd are also encouraged to get on the mic to tell their favourite Christmas jokes!

The Lord Mayor will officially perform the switch-on at around 5pm.

“It usually kickstarts Christmas for me and I think it does for a lot of other people too, so we’re really looking forward to both switch-ons now,” says Kris.