Thousands turned out to see the Norwich City chairman switch on the festive display and he even treated the crowds to some Gangnam Style moves.
Strictly Come Dancing star Ed Balls said it was a huge honour to turn on the Norwich Christmas lights 50 years after he was born less than a mile from the city centre.
The 49-year-old got asked by Norwich City Council to come to the event and even on the night he said he couldn't believe he was doing it.
'I would have never have dreamed that I would not only be coming back to turn on the lights in Norwich but also being described as Strictly's Ed Balls is absolutely ridiculous,' he said.
'The crowd was packed out there even on a cold night, the fireworks were brilliant and from my point of view as somebody from here not only to be chairman of the football club but now to turn on the lights is really, really special.'
After the switch on the former shadow chancellor jumped into a car for the long journey up to Blackpool for rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing special this weekend.
Alongside professional partner Katya Jones he will be performing a jive to 'Great Balls of Fire' in the famous ballroom and the routine involves him being lowered from the ceiling playing a piano.
But he played down his chances of winning the BBC One show when he was asked if he would have an open top bus victory parade through the streets of the city.
'Luckily for Norwich this isn't going to happen because there are a lot better dancers than me on the show and I think dance quality comes through in the end,' he said. 'We will save our bus tour for when Norwich go back to the Premier League and we hope that will be this season but it is going to happen soon.'
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