DJ Bozzed it as Petersfield wows with Christmas Light entertainment

Merry Christmas Petersfield!

Those were the words from Santa Claus, special guests and at least three very excited Herne Junior School pupils as Petersfield’s Christmas Lights were turned on.

Last Friday’s big switch-on may well have been the biggest yet with drone footage by Big Ladder Photography showing huge crowds milling around The Square and High Street.

It also put similar events by larger towns in the shade with organisers putting on a packed show of music, carols and entertainment over more than two hours.

The show organised by Petersfield Town Council and supported by Shine, Britannia Reeves, Visit Petersfield, JB Corrie, Hometown and others also included a reunion with P-Pod duo Joff Lacey and Claire Vennis presenting.

Pupil choirs from TPS, Petersfield Infants and Herne Juniors sang their hearts out along with duo Beatrix Turner and Keira Kingsbury before Santa’s sleigh arrived.

He told the crowd what a “wonderful place Petersfield is” before saying: “The children of Petersfield have been very good – it’s the adults I’ve been a bit worried about.”

The Square was surrounded by stalls with The Petersfield Museum, Community Garden, Lions and Petersfield Society all pitching up and long queues forming for mulled wine.

But the festivities were focal point with Alice Farrow leading the Salvation Army Band before the Winton Players and the mayor, Cllr Chris Paige, followed on to the stage.

“Thank you to you to for being amazing and thank you to everyone for coming out tonight,” said Cllr Paige before joining Joff, Claire and Petersfield Personality of the Year winner, DJ Boz, for the final countdown.

But there was bad news – if anyone was taking part in Whamageddon, they’ve already failed as Last Christmas was played immediately after the lights were turned on.

“And it isn’t even December,” joked Joff.