Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has switched on the Adderley Street Festive Lights.

The switch-on is the traditional start of the Festive Season in Cape Town. Its usually accompanied by a concert to mark the occasion, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s concert was cancelled.

Despite the change of proceedings, Hill-Lewis still had the honour of switching on the lights and he addressed a small group of media who were at Adderley Street.

The mayor says switching on the Festive Lights brought back good memories: “I remember my mom bringing me to Adderley Street as a young boy to see the lights being switched on. I remember the feeling of wonder and excitement seeing the lights blink on for as far as the eye could see, or at least that’s what it felt like to a small child.”

I remember coming to watch the switching on of the lights as a boy. Never imagined I’d one day do it myself. This 5-decades old Cape Town tradition signifies the start of the festive season, usually with 100 000 people watching. Hopefully we can again soon! Stay safe, be kind. pic.twitter.com/9YGm2SDeer

— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) December 1, 2021

Hill-Lewis also had a message for residents: “As we enjoy this December, let us recommit ourselves to demonstrating our caring and compassionate spirit for each other during these difficult times. I encourage every Capetonian to do something – just one thing – this December to bless and help someone less fortunate. By doing just one random act of kindness, we will help to build the more inclusive, more caring Cape Town that we are working towards.”

To spread the festive cheer the City of Cape Town has once again increased the reach of the festive lights display to the rest of the city. The City has installed festive lights displays in Muizenberg, Grassy Park, Macassar, Strand, Somerset West, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Ravensmead, Valhalla Park, Khayelitsha, Hanover Park, Mitchells Plain and Atlantis.

A further 90 Christmas trees in areas across the city will be draped in lights.

And, the City has assured residents that the Festive Lights have been installed with the environment top of mind. “The City has taken energy conservation into consideration during the installation process, where we have switched from the normal incandescent lamp (7Watt) to rope light (14 Watt per metre). By using these low consumption devices, we reduce the load on the network considerably,” they say in a statement.