CHRISTMAS Day may not be for another five weeks, but the Christmas lights switch-on in Colchester city centre has already put thousands of people into something of a festive frenzy.

The annual event was held in dry conditions on Wednesday evening, with the Christmas parade beginning at Firstsite before running through the High Street and finishing at the Mercury Theatre.

Gazette: Present – two-year-old Honey Lesley meets Father ChristmasPresent – two-year-old Honey Lesley meets Father Christmas (Image: Steve Brading)

As the sounds of the samba band grew louder, a budding sense of positivity pervaded the High Street; by 5.30pm, the parade was in full swing as the overhead lights were switched on one by one.

A giant fox rode past whilst confetti was released into the crowd, and Father Christmas – sitting on top of a mechanical elephant – wished onlookers a merry Christmas.

Gazette: Popular – Disney characters from Frozen were particularly exciting for Disney fansPopular – Disney characters from Frozen were particularly exciting for Disney fans (Image: Steve Brading)

The Victorian town hall was also lit up for the occasion as mayor and mayoress John and Susan Jowers waved to the crowds.

Gazette: Live – Essex band Cushti performs on-stage in Lion WalkLive – Essex band Cushti performs on-stage in Lion Walk (Image: Steve Brading)

Pupils from St James’s School walked past with a model of Colchester Castle, and members of the city’s Asian community brought up the rear of the parade with a Chinese dragon.

Gazette: Illuminated – the Lion Walk lights brighten the shopping districtIlluminated – the Lion Walk lights brighten the shopping district (Image: Steve Brading)

Though the parade finished by about 5.40pm, shops remained open, with five further nights of extended opening hours coming into place for various stores every Wednesday in the lead-up to Christmas.

Much of the crowd then gathered in Lion Walk as Essex band Cushti performed a programme of music whilst youngsters got pictures with characters from Star Wars and the Grinch.

Gazette: Happy – Mia-May Upsall, 11, beams with a big pair of rabbit earsHappy – Mia-May Upsall, 11, beams with a big pair of rabbit ears (Image: Steve Brading)

Felicity Smith, 32, took her three-year-old niece, Effie, to the event and praised its child-friendly nature.

Gazette: Festive – fake snow made everything feel a bit more ChristmassyFestive – fake snow made everything feel a bit more Christmassy (Image: Steve Brading)

She said: “It's been really good – the highlight was definitely seeing Elsa and Anna [characters from the Grinch] – that was excellent and Effie loved the fox.”

Gazette: Classic – the Grinch was a popular figure with youngsters and adults alikeClassic – the Grinch was a popular figure with youngsters and adults alike (Image: Steve Brading)

Sophie, 37, took along her two-year-old son, Cole, who was also excited to see the Fox come through High Street.

Gazette: Crowd – hundreds of people gathered on Lion Walk on Wednesday eveningCrowd – hundreds of people gathered on Lion Walk on Wednesday evening (Image: Steve Brading)

She said: “My little boy wanted to see the fox – they told him about it at nursery and he has been going on about it ever since.

“It was so good, and it's just so busy.”