CHRISTMAS was officially launched in Bournemouth this evening with a lights switch-on and the opening of the new Christmas Tree Wonderland.

Thousands gathered in Pier Approach for the festivities. After a performance from Funky Little Choir, the crowd was entertained by panto stars David Ball and Olivia Birchenough who will play Dame Nursie and Princess Briar Rose in Sleeping Beauty at Bournemouth Pavilion.

The hosts were then joined on stage by the deputy mayor, Cllr Lawrence Williams and deputy mayoress, Elaine Williams, along with Stacey Poole from ITV Meridian, and Father Christmas himself.

Crowds waited in suspense for the countdown, which culminated in a firework display on the beach and the lighting of the Moscow Tree at the start of the trail, before the rest of the dazzling attraction illuminated Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens.

Cllr Pat Oakley, said: “This is a long-awaited moment and we’re thrilled finally to reveal the magic of Christmas Tree Wonderland. Bournemouth is a truly eventful destination and we aim to give people compelling and exciting reasons to visit over and above our enviable location and award-winning beaches. This is just the start of what we hope will become a well-established festive tradition.”

The attraction features more than 100 trees of different shapes and sizes, with some themed from around the world, as well as a Tree of Light and canopy of cascading lights over Pine Tree Walk.

Standing at 60ft – the same height as the Angel of the North – and decorated with 30,000 LED lights, the centrepiece of the attraction is the Bournemouth Wonderland Tree.

Spectators had their first sight of the tree’s spectacular light shows, set to a seasonal music mix from Wave 105, the official Christmas Tree Wonderland radio partner.

Visitors will be able to capture the shows from 5pm, and then every half an hour until 8.30pm, each night except Christmas Day.

As well as a series of illuminations dotted around Bournemouth, there is a busy programme of visits from animated characters in the run-up to Christmas.

The popular SKATE rink is back in the gardens – this year with a skate path off the main rink for the very first time – and the Alpine Market and Lodge return to the town centre.

Martin Davies, Town Centre BID chairman, said: “After all the planning it is fantastic to see Christmas Tree Wonderland come to life in such a spectacular fashion and provide such a superb showcase for the town. It has created a real buzz which Bournemouth businesses are well placed to capitalise on as the town develops and raises its profile as a Christmas destination.”

As well as sponsoring the core offer in the centre of the resort, the Town Centre and Coastal Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) guarantee added festive fun extending as far as the Triangle, Horseshoe Common and Lansdowne, and beyond into the coastal villages of Westbourne, Southbourne and Boscombe.

Paul Clarke, Coastal BID Chairman, said: “Bournemouth’s coastal villages will be adding real variety and a family feel to the town’s whole Christmas experience. Throughout the festive season there’s a packed programme of magical events with visitors able to enjoy Christmas with a continental flavour at Boscombe, a vintage feel in Southbourne and a Victorian theme in Westbourne.”

As part of the town’s festivities, Yellow Buses is providing Buster’s Christmas Cracker Group Ticket from the Yellow Buses app which allows five people to travel after 5pm for £6.

David Squire, Yellow Buses managing director, said: “It has been wonderful to be a part of such an exciting new Christmas offer that is putting Bournemouth on the map as a really magical winter destination. Using Yellow Buses to explore Christmas Tree Wonderland and the coastal villages beyond will make sure visitors don’t miss a second of fun throughout the festive season.”

For further details on Christmas Tree Wonderland visit christmasstreewonderland.co.uk.