Pupils from all 36 Hyndburn primary schools have been invited to sing at this year’s Accrington Christmas Light Switch On by event organisers Amazing Accrington.

The Hyndburn primary school’s ‘Collective School Choir’ will take place from 4.30pm-4.55pm on Thursday 23rdNovember, and will be led by Helen Davies, Director of Music at St Christopher’s C.E. High School.

Participating schools will perform three short Christmas songs on the night, as they take centre stage in Accrington Town Centre once again, following a fantastic turnout in 2022 where over 300 primary school children sang together in the choir.

The songs being performed will be suitable for Year 4 pupils and above, with music to be sent out to learn the short and very easy tracks once schools confirm their attendance.

Each child who participates in the choir will receive a free gift from Santa on the night, as a thank you for their participation.

Letters have been sent out to headteachers of 36 primary schools in Hyndburn and the surrounding areas by Murray Dawson, chair of event organisers Amazing Accrington.

Hyndburn primary schools looking to get involved in the event, sponsored by Hyndburn Borough Council, Sundown Solutions, North Lancs Training Group and Financial Affairs, should contact sixthformdirector@st-christophers.org or zahida@scottdawson.co.ukby Friday 15th September.

Brand new for 2023, #AmazingAccrington are also inviting local school children to take part in a Blessing of the Crib, which will take place outside Accrington Market Hall and will see members from local churches and other local dignitaries get together for the festival celebration, which sees the blessing of Baby Jesus’ crib on the nativity scene. The activity will also be shown on a live screen at the event, while a live broadcast will also take place on Facebook.

Murray Dawson, Chair of #AmazingAccrington, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the collective school choir once again this year as part of our Christmas Light Switch On event. Seeing all the children coming together and singing is a wonderful spectacle and I would urge all our local primary schools to register their interest as soon as possible, so that they can be involved in one of the biggest community events of 2023.”

Helen Davies, Director of Music at St Christopher’s C.E. High School, commented: “This is one of the events which I look forward to every year. It is an incredible honour to lead the collective school choir and I am excited to see all our local primary schools and school children taking part once again.”

The 2023 Christmas Light Switch On will kick start a family-friendly start to Christmas in Accrington including a music stage, live acts, interactive entertainment, a firework display and fairground rides.

Keep an eye on the Amazing Accrington websitewww.amazingaccrington.co.uk and their social media channels for further updates.