Hundreds of people rewarded with seasonal snow showers for Banbury's Christmas light switch-on event

Hundreds of people turned out for the Banbury Christmas lights switch-on event, and they were rewarded with a fun day and seasonal snow showers.
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Christmas came to Banbury in traditional fashion yesterday, Sunday 28, when the town’s Christmas street lights were switched on by Mayor Shaida Hussain and local hero Prabhu Natarajan.

The 5pm switch-on followed an afternoon of fairground rides, food stalls and stage entertainment. Fireworks ended the event.

The event was organised by Banbury Town Council and the lights will stay on until midnight on January 5.

Local community hero Prabhu Natarajan, his six-year-old son Addhu and his wife Shilpa and the Banbury Mayor Shaida Hussain on stage the town's Christmas lights switch-on event on Sunday November 28 (photo from Banbury Town Council)Local community hero Prabhu Natarajan, his six-year-old son Addhu and his wife Shilpa and the Banbury Mayor Shaida Hussain on stage the town's Christmas lights switch-on event on Sunday November 28 (photo from Banbury Town Council)
Local community hero Prabhu Natarajan, his six-year-old son Addhu and his wife Shilpa and the Banbury Mayor Shaida Hussain on stage the town's Christmas lights switch-on event on Sunday November 28 (photo from Banbury Town Council)

Prabhu was accompanied on stage by his wife Shilpa and six-year-old son Addhu – and with Cllr Hussain they pressed the ‘lights on’ button.

Prabhu was nominated for an ‘unsung hero’ award by local residents after delivering thousands of food parcels to families during the Covid pandemic. He took grocery packages to needy families during the lockdown and spent over £400 of his own money in addition to funds raised by neighbours and well-wishers.

Cllr Hussain said: “The Christmas lights switch-on is one of the highlights of my mayoral year and I don’t mind the cold weather. Prabhu is the perfect ‘local hero’ to have the honour of pressing the magic button.”

Prabhu added: “We moved to Banbury in March 2020 and we have fallen in love with the town and its people. Being asked to switch on the Christmas lights is very special for my family and me.”

A festive performance at the Christmas lights switch-on event in the Banbury town centre (photo from Banbury Town Council)A festive performance at the Christmas lights switch-on event in the Banbury town centre (photo from Banbury Town Council)
A festive performance at the Christmas lights switch-on event in the Banbury town centre (photo from Banbury Town Council)

Stewart Green and Ian Fleming of Puritans Radio, Banbury United’s own broadcasting station, introduced the stage entertainment which included the North Oxfordshire Academy Band, Avocet Theatre Company and the Rock Choir.