LIGHTS, ACTION AT CITY ILLUMINATIONS SWITCH-ON
CROWDS GATHER TO SEE THE SWITCH-ON OF SUNDERLAND’S LIGHTS
Disney characters and dinosaurs dazzled hundreds of families who turned out to see the launch of the annual Sunderland Illuminations.
Once again, Roker Park, Cliffe Park and the seafront, were transformed into a Festival of Light, featuring bigger and better lighting displays than ever before.
The showcase, which kicked off last night, impressed huge crowds with attractions including a giant observation wheel, fairground rides and food stalls.
Running for four weeks until Sunday, November 5, the launch of the display saw crowds delight in the unveiling of a host of traditional Disney favourites, such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, which shone alongside dinosaurs, pirates and characters from the movie Frozen.
About 3,000 tickets have been sold online for the event, which has been hailed by Sunderland City Council as one of the highlights of the year.
Coun John Kelly, Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture, said: “The illuminations and Festival of Light are mainstays of the Sunderland events calendar, which bring tens of thousands of people into the city and to our beautiful seafront.
“Every year we challenge ourselves to do them better than the year before and I think residents and visitors alike will get a real kick out of what we have planned for this year.”
Sky Sinclair, 21, from Biddick Hall, in South Shields, was there with her son Harley Martin, two.
Sky said: “This is the first time I have managed to come along and it is really good. My son loved it and has loved the Disney characters.”
Each £1 online ticket will entitle the ticket holder to a £1 discount on pantomime tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk, which is being held at the Sunderland Empire Theatre between Tuesday, December 5 and Sunday, January 7.
Sunderland Illuminations will run until November 5, from 5pm to 10pm each day, while the Festival of Light will be open every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until then.
To buy tickets, visit www. seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/ illuminations.