THE stars came out and fireworks lit up the sky as the Christmas lights were switched on in Basingstoke.

Ray Lewis, former lead singer of The Drifters, performing with his latest band, Still Drifting, and world champion show dancers Craig Smith and Natalie Woolf wowed a packed crowd in Festival Square before the Christmas parade arrived last Friday evening.

Led by mascots Alvin, Simon and Theodore from the children’s animated film Alvin and the Chipmunks, the parade – including Sand-hurst Silver Band, characters from Christmas theatre performances, various mascots, Father Christmas and Mary and Joseph with real lambs – wound its way through the shopping centre to the sound of Christmas tunes.

After a performance from Hatch Warren-based Poptrain, the parade made its way on to the Festival Square stage to receive cheers from the crowd before Sonia – who will be starring as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at The Anvil – and the Chipmunks turned on the lights.

Sonia told The Gazette: “It looks like everyone is really looking forward to Christmas. Everyone’s really up for the festival season.”

Ray Lewis, who lives in Malibu, California, said he enjoyed watching the Poptrain kids perform and being in Basingstoke.

“I feel like one of the kids,” he said. “If I had my choice, I’d be out the front throwing my hands up and singing along.”

Sophie Lovegrove, 31, who was at the festive switch-on with her family, partner Jay Rowlands, 34, Matthew Lovegrove, 12, Alfie Rowlands, four, and Hannah Rowlands, two, said the show was great for the kids.

Sophie, from Baughurst Road, Tadley, said: “The timing of the switch-on was good. You could have something to eat first and then watch the Chipmunks.”

Also watching the show was Jackie Kimber, 53, of Britten Road, Brighton Hill, with her daughter Holly Kimber, 22, stepdaughter Lucy Ball, 12, and grandson Harry Vickery, three.

Jackie said: “It was a good evening, but there were so many people we couldn’t see everything. We are going to get here earlier next year.”