Report: Windermere Santa Cruise and Masked Parade 2011 (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Report: Windermere Santa Cruise and Masked Parade 2011

8:54am Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Leisure

HUNDREDS of people took to the streets of Windermere to mark the start of the festive season on Saturday.

Kicking off the Christmas countdown was a sold-out Santa Cruise aboard a Windermere steamer, which saw children entertained by Peter Rabbit and readings from a Beatrix Potter character.

But it was the annual Windermere Masked Parade which proved the biggest attraction, pulling in over 1,500 people to see the town's big light switch-on.

As people arrived at Windermere recreation ground, they were greeted by the carnival sound of Milnthorpe Steel Band, while traditional mulled wine and mince pies were a warming prelude to the dramatic fireworks finale.

Sharon Wright, chair of Windermere and Bowness winter lights committee, said: “We are really happy with the way that the community has pulled together to continue to improve the winter lights celebrations.

“The current climate brings home to us the importance of occasions like the Winter Lights Parade for the community to come together for one evening to celebrate the start of the festive season."