THE festive season has officially begun in Penzance thanks to a pasty-loving nine-year-old.

In front of a huge crowd in the town centre on Saturday, November 29, Karson Hearley from Gulval Primary School was invited by the mayor of Penzance, Stephen Reynolds, to switch on the town’s Christmas lights.

After asking the onlookers gathered around the Christmas tree ‘Who here likes pasties?’ and then leading them into a rousing shout of ‘Oggy, oggy, oggy!’, nine-year-old Karson pushed the plunger to illuminate the town in festive joy.

9-year-old Karson Hearley switches on the Christmas lights in Penzance on Saturday 29 November. Photo by Penzance Council
A huge crowd gathered in the town centre for the big switch-on (Picture: Penzance Council)
9-year-old Karson Hearley switches on the Christmas lights in Penzance on Saturday 29 November. Photo by Penzance Council
The festive season begins in Penzance (Picture: Penzance Council)

The event marks the start of the Christmas season in Penzance, and the end of months of disruption due to essential gas works and town centre improvements.

This year, the town’s Christmas lights and Christmas tree have been funded and delivered by Penzance BID, with additional funding from Penzance Council.

9-year-old Karson Hearley switches on the Christmas lights in Penzance on Saturday 29 November. Photo by Penzance Council
Karson Hearley speaking to the crowd (Picture: Penzance Council)
Penzance Musical Theatre Company. 9-year-old Karson Hearley switches on the Christmas lights in Penzance on Saturday 29 November. Photo by Penzance Council
Penzance Musical Theatre Company performing on the night (Picture: Penzance Council)

Karson Hearley was invited to plunge the streets into brightness after he was chosen by the Mayor of Penzance as the winner of his annual Christmas Card Competition.

Now in its sixth year, the competition invites all Year 5 and 6 school pupils in the Penzance Parish to enter their designs for the Mayor’s Christmas Card.

With the theme of ‘Cornish Christmas’, this year’s winning entry by Karson - which featured a Christmas tree made of pasties - will be sent out by the mayor, Stephen Reynolds, as an e-card, in-keeping with the environmental values of Penzance Council.

Mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds chose Karson Hearley's design as the winner of his Christmas Card Competition. Photo by Penzance Council
Mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds chose Karson Hearley's design (Picture: Penzance Council)
Mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds chose Karson Hearley's design as the winner of his Christmas Card Competition. Photo by Penzance Council
Designs for the annual Mayor’s Christmas Card competition (Picture: Penzance Council)

Entries for this year’s competition were received from Gulval School, Heamoor Community Primary School, Pensans Community Primary School and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School.

Following the Christmas lights switch-on, members of the Penzance Musical Theatre Company entertained the crowd with songs from their upcoming show ‘Nativity! The Musical’ which is happening at The Ritz, Penzance from December 10 to 14.