A MAJOR campaign has been launched to help make this year's Christmas lights in Exeter the best yet.
The campaign, launched by Exeter City Centre Management, encourages people to pledge from as little as £5 in return for a host of rewards.
The crowdfunding route is being used to supplement the money already put in to the Christmas lights by Exeter City Council.
Both Princesshay and the Guildhall Shopping Centre will continue to fund and install their own lighting displays and events as usual.
Additional money raised will allow the High Street lights to be even better and for lights to shine in other areas of the city centre, including Gandy Street and Fore Street.
For a £10 pledge, donors will enjoy a mince pie and some mulled wine on the night of the Christmas lights switch-on or a range of beauty treatments from Radiance MediSpa worth more than £200.
People donating £35 will get a VIP ticket to the official light switch-on at Princesshay.
Presents for larger donations include a tour of the Met Office and being live on stage at the switch on.
Princesshay will host Exeter's official Christmas Light switch-on event from 4pm on Thursday, November 20.
Personal appearances at the event will include Caroline Quentin, Jo Pavey, and players from Exeter Chiefs.
Live music will include Adam Isaac and band, the Exeter University Jazz Orchestra, Exeter University Soul Choir and local X Factor finalist Shelley Smith.
John Harvey, Exeter city centre manager, said: "The city council is committed to working with others to create the best possible Christmas display for our community, but we want to make it bigger and better this year which is why we are asking local businesses and the community to get behind it.
"We feel doing it in this fun and rewarding way for the community is a win-win for everybody involved."
The Lord Mayor Councillor Percy Prowse said: "This is a great way of raising additional money to make Exeter shine brighter than ever at Christmas this year.
"I'm delighted to support the crowdfunding campaign and really pleased that a modest percentage of the money raised will be going to this year's Lord Mayor's charity – Exeter Leukaemia Fund."
Phil Geraghty, MD of Crowdfunder, said: "Crowd-funding brings communities together to make their great ideas happen.
"This year we are delighted that Exeter are crowd-funding their city lights, bringing the local community, businesses and the council together to make the festive season shine brightly for everyone involved."
For more information and to take part visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/exeter-christmas-lights
