Every year the Levenshulme Lights Switch On attracts thousands of people from across the area. This year was no exception with kids starting to queue outside the Palace Night Club to see Father Christmas from around 3 oclock in the afternoon on Tuesday 4th December 2001 .

The next part of the show included a fabulous disco with Cllr. Dave Hennigan and Vinnie Davies, the breakfast show presenters on ALL FM, which saw the whole of Farmside Place rocking.

Cllr. Hennigan said "I was delighted to be involved in the show, which brought such happiness to such a huge cross section of the community. The smiles on children's faces said it all. I was happy in all the many roles I played on the day. I would also like to say that Father Christmas was brillliant!!!!!!"

Actor Bruno Langley who plays teenage heartthrob ‘Todd Grimshaw’ in the Granada TV show "Coronation Street", is pictured here giving the thumbs up the big switch-on along with ‘Kit’ the Commonwealth Games Mascot. 

The actor was besieged by young girls frantic for his autograph and ended up staying two hours longer than scheduled to ensure everyone went home happy. 

"I'm glad we did not unveil our secret celebrity this year, we knew 'Todd' would be popular but didn't realise how popular, the girls just couldn't believe their eyes when we unveiled our surprise celebrity." said Tony Hennigan from Marketing Levenshulme.

‘Todd’ and ‘Kit’ were just two of the celebrities who came down to join in the village’s Christmas Street Carnival to celebrate the switching on of their £30,000 worth of Christmas Lights. 

The event and the lights were sponsored by the A6 SRB, local traders and the Levenshulme Pub company. 

Thousands of residents packed into Farmside Place to join in the festive celebrations.

The other celebrities helping out with the switch on were the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Moonchester from Manchester City, Fred the Red from Manchester United and Father Christmas from the North Pole.

The live entertainment was presented by Aspinal Primary School Choir, Levenshulme High School Soul Choir and male soloist ‘Ricky Lee’ along with Vinny Davies & Dave Hennigan from ALL FM.

Fire eaters kept the crowd warm and spellbound with their magical displays of fire eating and juggling, while a Giant Fairy sprinkled her magical dust over the crowds.

The 2,000 plus strong crowd were mesmerised by the wonderful display and event, Lawrence Hennigan of the Levenshulme Pub Company said " These lights always give the centre of Levenshulme village a truly festive look.  They have played a massive part in bringing more people into the area, not just to shop but also to visit the many varied Restaurants and Bars to be found locally. The area has so much to offer with easy free parking and a friendly atmosphere.”

Lawrence Ryan Hennigan, (pictured to the left) the president of the Levenshulme Pub Company was also enthusiastic about the switch on and said, "Although I realise, as Katharine Whitehorn, the English writer, essayist once said, that from a purely commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it, I feel that in reality it should truly be a time of year when we show good will to all men and of course women.

This switch on symbolises all that is good about Levenshulme, and the people who live here. I greatly enjoyed all the festive frolics and I must consider this to be without doubt the greatest feast of seasonal entertainment I have ever witnessed."

The photographs from the Christmas Lights 2000 Switch On are here