Manchester’s Christmas theatre productions were on hand with festive messages, including a video message from The Hoff himself, David Hasslehoff.
Albert Square became Britain's biggest pop venue for the night as more than 20,000 people watched the spectacular show. Meanwhile thousands of Manchester ex-pats were able to share in the festivities through the first ever live web stream.
Popsters TheWanted entertained the crowds with their energetic performance, supported by local star Misha B, X-Factor’s Carolynne Poole, ex-Waterloo Road stars, The Du’Montts and Collyhurst’s own The Last Party – not to mention the soaring voices of the Manchester Sign Out Choir.
Mark Waugh pictures: Christmas switch-on 2012 www.markwaugh.net
Manchester’s Christmas theatre productions were on hand with festive messages, including a video message from The Hoff himself, David Hasslehoff.
The crowd was also delighted by the mischievous CBBC dogs, Hacker and Dodge, while the winners of The Printworks Street Dance competition, Avenue, performed choreographed routines.
The event concluded with a six-minute fireworks spectacular.
Mark Waugh pictures: Christmas switch-on 2012 www.markwaugh.net
Mark Waugh pictures: Christmas switch-on 2012 www.markwaugh.net
Mark Waugh pictures: Christmas switch-on 2012 www.markwaugh.net
Mark Waugh pictures: Christmas switch-on 2012 www.markwaugh.net
Mark Waugh pictures: Christmas switch-on 2012 www.markwaugh.net
We’re The Best, The Bloody Best, And Biggest, And The Original, D’ya Hear
Along with the pictures sent to Confidential about the Lights Turn-On we also got a shouty bit at the bottom of the email.
Manchester’s obviously feeling sensitive about claims from other cities about their Christmas markets so the city wants us to know this in bold and CAPITALS.
Manchester’s Christmas Markets – the ORIGINAL. Manchester was the first city in the UK to introduce continental-style European Christmas Markets in 1999. Other cities were quick to follow, including Birmingham in 2001, Liverpool in 2006 and Belfast in 2005.
Manchester’s Christmas Markets – the BIGGEST. Boasting more than 300 stalls in seven different locations around the city, Manchester’s Christmas Markets are the biggest continental-style market in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe. The UK's next biggest, Birmingham, has just 180 stalls*, Liverpool has just over 50 and Bristol 35.
Manchester’s Christmas Markets – the BEST. Visitors and residents love Manchester’s Christmas Markets – with 83% rating them either "excellent” or "good". The market has also won a string of awards – including being named in the top 10 Christmas markets in the world by Frommers.
The Greatest Market In The UNIVERSE
Mark Waugh pictures: Christmas switch-on 2012 www.markwaugh.net
