STUNNING special attractions will bring Leicester’s streets to life at the city’s Christmas switch-on event this week.
On Wednesday evening, (20 November) 16,000 Christmas lights will be switched on to illuminate the city throughout the festive season. But that’s not all that visitors will see on the night, with lots of other attractions and activities on offer.
Town Hall Square – with its array of lights, Christmas trees and the traditional nativity scene – will see people starting to gather from 5pm. Brass bands and choirs will perform until 8pm, and this is a great place for those seeking a quieter spot from which to watch the lights go on.
Look out for the spectacular stilt-walking angels, Corvus Angelicus; Christmas stilt-walkers Tinsel and Cracker, and Blizzard the puppet penguin on the streets of the city centre. You can also enjoy a Dickensian ding-dong from the Jelly Roller, who will be entertaining the crowds with a virtuoso strolling musical performance.
From 5pm on the Haymarket balcony, BBC Radio Leicester presenter Ady Dayman will be hosting proceedings with The Apprentice star and DJ, Virdi Singh Mazaria. And at switch-on moment – around 6.30pm - there will also be an appearance from Divina De Campo, runner-up of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Wicked Queen of this year’s panto, Snow White, at De Montfort Hall, plus Jack Ballard as the panto dame!
As always, the Clock Tower’s 15m-high Christmas tree – which this year is sponsored by Highcross Leicester - will be a splendid focal point, and will be illuminated at 6.30pm.
Shoppers flocking to the city centre to mark the arrival of Christmas in Leicester will also witness the first smattering of ‘snow’ in the city, set to fall in St Peter’s Square just in time for the official switch-on.
In Humberstone Gate, you can enjoy the funfair, which is open from noon until 9pm. And join the 15-piece nutcracker marching band as it leads a switch-on trail through the city centre, starting at 6.45pm from the Haymarket through to Highcross at 7pm and in St Martins at 7.30pm, before returning to the Haymarket at 8pm.
At the Haymarket, there will be plenty of festive entertainment from 4.30pm. Santa will appear, enjoying the musical entertainment, and two LED stilt-walking angels will light up the occasion. Meanwhile, over at Jubilee Square, a ride on the 35m Wheel of Light will give people an aerial view of the illuminations.
Assistant city mayor for culture, Cllr Vi Dempster, said: “Thousands of people flock into the city centre for our switch-on event, and we look forward to welcoming everyone. There’s lots going on throughout the festive season for visitors to Leicester.
“Our ice rink returns and has become a really popular feature in our Christmas line-up. There’s also our annual panto at De Montfort Hall, festive performances at Curve and new for this year is the fantastic Christmas market that’s already proving popular with shoppers on Gallowtree Gate.”
Kirsty Freudenreich, head of operations at Highcross Leicester, said: “We’re proud to sponsor this year’s Clock Tower Christmas tree, a much-loved focal point of the city’s Christmas traditions, and one that we know brings our vibrant community together each year.
“The lights switch-on is just the beginning. Alongside the Christmas tree and festive lights, we’re bringing a little extra magic to Leicester with a flurry of ‘snow’ in St Peter’s Square, and performances from Leicester’s Salvation Army band, which will be helping to fill the air with Christmas carols and seasonal classics as we light up the night - celebrations that are just the start of our own festive plans!”
Leicester’s newest festive attraction – a Christmas market – has set up stall in Gallowtree Gate, selling a wide range of food, drinks and Christmas gifts. The market is open daily from 10am to 7pm until 29 December, so visitors to the city centre will be able to enjoy a warming hot chocolate or a tasty Yorkshire pudding wrap while Christmas shopping or making the most of the Boxing Day sales.
Jubilee Square’s real ice rink, Ice Skate Leicester, will be open from Thursday 5 December to Sunday 5 January, with opportunities to skate from just £7 per person on selected dates.
And families will be able to visit Santa’s grotto for free at the Haymarket on Saturday 7 December and at the Highcross each weekend in December, plus on Monday 23 December.
If you’re planning to travel in to the city centre for the big switch-on, Leicester’s park and ride service will be operating an extended service with the last journeys from the city to Birstall and Meynells Gorse at 9pm and Enderby at 8.55pm.
The Bike Park at the Town Hall will also be open until 8.30pm, offering free, secure bike parking for anyone who cycles in to the switch-on event.
Find out more about all of Leicester’s festive attractions and activities at christmasinleicester.co.uk.
ENDS