South Normanton Christmas Lights Switch On & Live Nativity Event

This year saw the biggest ever turn out of local residents for the village ‘Christmas Lights Switch On’ and ‘Live Nativity’ events last Sunday evening.

This now annual event was made even more special with the inclusion of a fabulous ‘Live Nativity’ organised and performed by members of South Normanton Churches Together and their special guests. The Nativity event also featured a fantastic live animal menagerie including donkeys, alpacas, goats and chickens for the children to stroke and pet in the Post Mill Centre car park, along with various hot beverages and food vans.

The Market Place was packed with an extremely large audience of all ages which had gathered to watch Councillor Graham Parkin switch on the ‘Christmas Lights’ followed by carols from the choir of South Normanton Churches Together around the village Christmas Tree. The crowd then watched in silence as the Angel Gabriel visited Mary and started the traditional ‘Nativity’ story.

Mary and Joseph then began their journey from ‘Nazareth to Bethlehem’ followed closely by the crowd along Market Street to the Post Mill Centre for the rest of the ‘Nativity’ which was performed with a funny and localised script to the delight of the audience.

Everyone watched and laughed as the Innkeeper (our very own Bill Smith-Eccles) invited a tired and weary ‘Mary and Joseph’ to rest in the ‘Bethlehem Villager’ stables. They were soon followed by a group of shepherds and their flock of sheep. Next came the arrival of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts and travelling far from the east and no not from ‘Skegness’. The ‘Three Wise Men’ were played by special guests, Bolsover MP Rt Hon Mark Fletcher, South Normanton & Pinxton Councillor Julian Siddle and Tibshelf Councillor James Barron. 

Then out of nowhere came a Parish Council ‘Roads and Pedestrian Maintenance Facilitator’ (street sweeper) played by Pastor Mark Oldershaw who treated the assembled audience to light-hearted but poignant monologue as to the real meaning of why we celebrate Christmas.  There was even an ariel performance from the ‘Angel Gabriel’ as he suddenly reappeared holding the brightly shining ‘Star of Bethlehem’ high above the crowd along with a sprinkling of snow for good measure. 

Afterwards, Mark Fletcher MP was invited to pick and hand out the prizes to the winners of the best dressed “Nativity Outfit Competition” and gold chocolate coins were distributed to the crowd by the village innkeeper.

The event organisers South Normanton Parish Council and South Normanton Churches Together, would like to say a big thank you to all who came along and attended and helped make the event such a memorable and amazing success. The Parish Council would also like to especially thank South Normanton Churches Together (South Normanton Community Church, J28, St. Michael’s and The Salvation Army) for all their hard work in organising and performing the ‘Live Nativity’, to their special guests and the entire cast, musicians and behind the scenes crew. 

We would also like to take the opportunity to thank the local businesses who kindly donated prizes and the village councillors and volunteers who helped to marshal the event.

We’ll be posting more photos taken at the event on our website and Facebook page over the coming days.

Regards
South Normanton Parish Council