Packed crowds gathered as The Lord Mayor of Chester switched on the Garden Quarter’s Christmas lights – with a giant tentacle.
On Saturday (November 30) families and students lined the streets to enjoy singing, dancing and fireworks as the community kick started its festive celebrations in style.
And, after listening to performances by children from Chester Bluecoat CE Primary School and candy-cane dancing from the Cambrian Queens, the community watched in awe as Cllr Jill Houlbrook switched on the Christmas lights using a giant squid-like tentacle.
Laughter rippled through the crowd as The Lord Mayor, joined by Lady Mayoress Rachel Walker, was presented with the purple tentacle which they squeezed to switch on lights down Garden Lane and Bouverie Street.
And if that wasn’t enough the mother and daughter pair where presented with the ‘Blue Swan of friendship’ by the Garden Quarter - a symbol of friendship to be displayed on the mantelpiece in her Chamber for the rest of her term.
“Thank you so much for welcoming me and inviting me along to this rather bizarre light switch-on,” said Cllr Houlbrook.
“Whenever I come to Garden lane I’m always surprised and never disappointed. It’s a fabulous area and I know the Deputy Lord Mayor thinks its a fabulous area as well.
“I’m afraid I made a rash comment to Matt Baker about switching the light on by squeezing a tentacle – so we have a tentacle.”
The evening, which ended with performances from A Handbag of Harmonies and fireworks, saw two students from the University of Chester, Lucia Rojek and Brooke Knight, stun crowds with their rendition of Katy Perry’s Roar and an acoustic version of O Holy Night.
