For many the turning on of the festive lights in their town or village across the city heralds the start of the Christmas festivities. These photos, plucked from the YEP archive, also focus on switch ons at shopping centres as well as satellite communities outside the LS postcode. READ MORE: The Leeds babies born on Christmas Day during the 1990s and 2000s LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
![Emmerdale star Mandy Dingle, alias actress Lisa Riley helped switch on Yeadon's Christmas Lights in December 1996. Giving her a helping hand was the Lord Mayor of Leeds Coun Malcolm Bedford.](https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTIzNTQ1Mjg0.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Yeadon
Emmerdale star Mandy Dingle, alias actress Lisa Riley helped switch on Yeadon's Christmas Lights in December 1996. Giving her a helping hand was the Lord Mayor of Leeds Coun Malcolm Bedford. Photo: James Hardisty
![This is Hannah Birkett at the switch on of Otley Christmas lights at the town's Market Place in December 1997..](https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTIzNTQ1NzQx.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Otley
This is Hannah Birkett at the switch on of Otley Christmas lights at the town's Market Place in December 1997.. Photo: Roy Fox
![Guiseley's Christmas tree only had lights on the top in December 1997 to stop vandalism.](https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTIzNTQ1NzQy.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Guiseley
Guiseley's Christmas tree only had lights on the top in December 1997 to stop vandalism. Photo: Mark Bickerdike
![Brookside actor Steven Pinder, who plays Max Farnham, joined Santa Claus at the White Rose Centre to switch on their Christmas lights in November 1997.](https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTIzNTQ1NzQz.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. White Rose
Brookside actor Steven Pinder, who plays Max Farnham, joined Santa Claus at the White Rose Centre to switch on their Christmas lights in November 1997. Photo: Mark Bickerdike
![The Morley Christmas lights switch on was in safe hands in December 1998. Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn did the honours.](https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTIzNTQ1NzQ0.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Morley
The Morley Christmas lights switch on was in safe hands in December 1998. Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn did the honours. Photo: Bruce Rollinson
![Emmerdale actor Chris Chittell (left) and Leeds United striker Alan Smith press the plunger to switch-on Rothwell Christmas lights in December 1999.](https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/webimg/QVNIMTIzNTQ1NzQ1.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Rothwell Lights
Emmerdale actor Chris Chittell (left) and Leeds United striker Alan Smith press the plunger to switch-on Rothwell Christmas lights in December 1999. Photo: Keith Lawson