Falcons ready to light up Newcastle
Toby Flood and Will Welch will be the special guests this coming Thursday (8 November) as the Falcons’ pair performs the honour of switching on Newcastle’s Christmas lights for 2018.
Club captain Welch and former England fly-half Flood will join a host of dignitaries in pushing the ceremonial plunger after being invited to this year’s event as the city gears up for a huge year of rugby in 2019.
It is a year that will not only see the Falcons continue to fly the flag for the city in the Gallagher Premiership and the Heineken Champions Cup, but also see St James’ Park host the European Rugby finals weekend in May and England’s final Quilter International against Italy in September ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
Hosted by Metro Radio Breakfast Show hosts Steve and Karen and proudly sponsored by NSPCC, the Christmas showcase gets underway at 5:30pm and promises an evening of festive fun for all the family with Christmas sing-alongs, lots of dancing and on-stage competitions.
The main event follows at approximately 6.30pm when the 20,000 lights that will illuminate the city for the first time in front of a gathered crowd of around 5,000 people at Greys Monument.
Joining the Falcons’ players on stage will be Lord Mayor of Newcastle, cllr David Down, Big Audition winners Liv N G, the cast of the Theatre Royals Pantomime ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, Cabinet member for culture, sport and public health Cllr Kim McGuiness and a special appearance from the one and only, Santa Claus.
The event is free, and everyone is welcome to attend, people are advised to get down early to secure the best vantage point.
Looking forward to the evening, Flood said: “I know Will and I are pretty excited to be asked, it’s something I suppose you remember as a kid, walking around Newcastle come Christmas time and having the experience of all the lights so it’s a pretty special thing and we’re pretty honoured to be invited.
“We might have a few friends and family there as well to get stuck into it so it should be a special occasion. I never thought it would be one that I would be doing but it’s pretty cool to have the chance.”
Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr David Down who said: “The evening that the Newcastle Christmas Lights are switched on marks the official start of the festive season and is a great chance for the people of Newcastle to come together and begin to share in the joys of Christmastime.
The lights illuminate the city every year and create a warm and colourful surrounding for the residents and visitors alike who come into the city centre over the Christmas period to enjoy all that this great city has to offer.”
