A DUP councillor has said Belfast’s Christmas lights switch-on needs “somebody more exciting” than the Lord Mayor to host it — despite all tickets for this year’s event being claimed “faster than Oasis”.
The 10,000 tickets were claimed in less than 50 minutes — without any celebrity on the bill.
A council officer explained to DUP councillor Tracy Kelly that tickets were actually being claimed more quickly when there wasn’t a celebrity involved, and there would be “cost implications” if one was involved.
Despite the cost to ratepayers, Ms Kelly said “it would be nice” to have one.
The remarks came at a recent Belfast City Council committee meeting during an update on major events planned for the city.
In the 90s and Noughties the Christmas lights turn-on event was famous for drawing in international and local celebrities, with the peak coming in November 1995 when President Bill Clinton turned on the Christmas tree lights.
At this month’s meeting of the council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee at City Hall, a council officer made the surprising declaration that tickets for the Christmas lights turn-on in Belfast “sold faster than Oasis”.
The official added she would look at bringing back a report with costing and suggestions for future celebrity involvement in the Christmas turn-on event.
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The officer said: “The first allocation, which is 75% of the ticket allocation, went within 30 minutes. And the 25% that we held back for a later release time in the day went within 17 minutes.
“So you will be very happy to know they sold out faster than Oasis.
“So that is the full capacity of the 10,000 across the event. And then obviously there are a number of those allocations for the special access platform as well.”
The Belfast Lord Mayor, Alliance vouncillor Micky Murray, will turn on the lights, with support from a number of charities and “media partners”.
At the committee meeting, DUP councillor Ms Kelly said: “I am glad to see the Christmas lights turn-on back, after this committee tried to get rid of it a few years ago.
“I always remember growing up as a kid, we always had some kind of celebrity or pop star, or somebody exciting. I know tickets sold out quite quickly, but it would be nice to see that coming back.
“Even a local celebrity, there are quite a few of them. I’m not saying the Lord Mayor is not. But somebody a bit more exciting would be good.”
She asked for a report back on the suggestion.
A council officer said: “It is something we can look at, in terms of the cost implications, who is out there on the periphery and could potentially fulfil that role.
“But on the point of the ticket sales, it is interesting to see that they are actually going faster now than they have done in previous years when there were celebrity appearances.
“It is interesting to see that demand — but we can go into those figures a bit more.”
Belfast’s Christmas celebrations will officially begin on Saturday November 16 with the switch-on event which will take place from around 6.30pm to 7.30pm. The stage programme will consist of walkabout performers entertaining the audience at each three entrances, Donegall Place, and Donegall Square East and West.
The council report states the proposed stage programme will have “a variety of short acts celebrating the best of Belfast performers both professional companies and community organisations, all supported by council”.
The stage show will be compered by a “media partner” with a young musician opening the event playing bagpipes.
It will also have a live local band, Christmas musical and theatre performances, a “Rock Choir” singing carols and “uplifting” rock songs, and a primary school choir.
The 2 Royal Avenue Christmas programme will include a Winter’s Den beginning on Saturday November 16 and running throughout the Christmas period. It will also include a variety of “sustainable” festive workshops, Christmas carolling and musical sing a longs
There will be jazz afternoons for seniors, family theatre and performances, and celebrations from around the world including art, storytelling and dance.
The space will also have baby sensory sessions, with autism and disability friendly events such as sensory workshops, activities and storytelling.
Additionally, on Saturday November 16 2 Royal Avenue will offer a dedicated sensory area, sensory decoration making workshop, a relaxed silent disco and walk about characters.
An “alternative tree lighting” ceremony will also take place in the venue for those unable to manage the crowds at City Hall.
Over the festive period there will be a Santa’s Post Office, Christmas tea dances, choir performances, a festive ceilidh, traditional performances and markets including the Potters market and Twilight markets.
The Christmas Market will run this year from Saturday November 16 to Sunday December 22. Market Place Europe Limited, who currently holds the Continental Markets contract, this year will be celebrating 20 years of the Belfast Christmas Market and plans Dickensian themed weekends.