39 jolly pictures of families enjoying the Commercial Road Christmas lights switch-on in the early 2000s

If you grew up in Portsmouth, it is very likely you’ll have been to the Commercial Road Christmas light switch on.

This year the event took place on Saturday, November 22 between 4.30 and 6pm, and was moved inside due to a poor weather forecast. But the miserable weather didn’t stop the fun, with music, special guests and live performances making it a Christmas shindig to remember.

We have put together a gallery of pictures from the switch on event in the early 2000s: