If you scroll through this set of pictures, dating back as far as the 1960s, you will see Sheffielders turning out for light switch-on celebrations and festive illuminations; queuing up to meet Father Christmas and searching through the incredible array of toys on offer at Sheffield’s legendary Redgates store.
You will also see large crowds congregating in a sparkling Barker’s Pool as they wait for the Christmas lights to be turned on; people stopping to take in the wonder of the Goodwin Fountain in its festive finery and postal workers hard at work as they sort all of the Christmas post being sent to people living acros the city.
![Another crowded city centre for the switch on in the mid 2000s](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU2NmU5NWE5LWYzNjYtNDYxOS1iZWNjLTNiNTA2YzAyNDM2MjoxNzM0N2ExMy1hY2EzLTRiYzYtYmM4Yy1kNzBlODY3MTdmZjE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Crowds gather to see the Christmas lights being switched on
Another crowded city centre for the switch on in the mid 2000s Photo: JP
![A crammed Barker's Pool for a 1960s lights switch on.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjViOGFjMTQwLWE0NTMtNDkyNi05ZjJjLTdiZWJhNzAzNjAxNDo1OTA4ODhkMS1mZDUwLTRlMTktYmQ2Ny1lM2JlN2UwY2UzOTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
![Christmas as a child in Sheffield meant a trip to the city's legendary Redgates toy store.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjU4MDcyZDQxLWU5YmUtNDc2ZS1hMDhmLTc1ZGJhOTdiMjFmYjo0M2VhYmM3Zi1hYzNlLTQ4YTctOTE2NC1mYWIzYzA1NzI2MzE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Christmas at Redgates
Christmas as a child in Sheffield meant a trip to the city's legendary Redgates toy store. Photo: JP
![A busy day in Castle Market in the lead up to Christmas in the early 1980s.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQwN2RiNDQ1LWM2M2UtNDVmYS04ZjkyLWU4MTYyZDU1MmZjYTpjY2I3MmM5Ni1hNWVjLTQ3YjctYWE1NS1iM2RlMjQxNjRkZmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Crowds visit Castle Market
A busy day in Castle Market in the lead up to Christmas in the early 1980s. Photo: JP