Highcross Leicester is gearing up for a Christmas season packed with new attractions, festive flavours, and a touch of candy-coated magic.
Running from 14 November to 29 December, this year’s celebrations will feature the shopping centre’s first-ever Festive Food and Gift Fayre, a free pop-up pantomime experience, and a full set of new eco-friendly decorations inspired by a candy cane wonderland.
Picture credit: Highcross
The Christmas cheer begins on 14 November with the opening of the Highcross Festive Food Fayre in St Peter’s Square. Visitors can browse and sample a wide range of seasonal treats, including Yorkshire pudding wraps, cheese gift sets, mulled wine, and indulgent desserts like cheesecake on a stick.
The fayre will run throughout the festive season, complementing Leicester City Council’s food and drink market on Gallowtree Gate, which takes place from 13 November to 28 December.
This year, Highcross will unveil brand-new decorations made entirely from eco-friendly materials. The centre will be transformed into a Candy Cane Wonderland, complete with hanging sweets, a giant “candy chandelier,” and festive photo spots including a light-up present and a candy cane chair.
The decorations will be officially switched on by players from the Leicester Riders basketball team on 19 November at 7 pm.
Adding to the festive lineup, Highcross will host its first-ever pop-up pantomime, The Candy Cane Factory, where families can help Santa’s elves save Christmas and explore his colourful workshop.
The interactive show, located on the upper mall next to River Island, will run 15 performances daily between 12 pm and 7 pm every Saturday from 22 November to 20 December, with an extra show on Tuesday 23 December. Entry is free, with voluntary donations encouraged for local charity LOROS through tap-and-go stations on-site.
Michelle Menezes, Centre Director at Highcross Leicester, said she hopes this year’s celebrations will bring “a little bit of Christmas magic” to the city.
“This will be my first Christmas at Highcross since joining the team in January 2025, and we wanted to make it extra special,” Menezes said. “That’s why we’ve introduced three brand-new experiences — our sweet-inspired decorations, our free pop-up panto, and our festive food and gift fayre.”
She added that the centre’s strong year — which included welcoming eight new brands and hosting a series of community events — inspired the team to “end the year on a high” with a Christmas full of firsts.
Throughout December, Highcross will also host performances by local choirs, including the Salvation Army and the LOROS Choir, adding extra festive spirit to the shopping experience.
For more details about events and opening times, visit www.highcrossleicester.com or follow Highcross Leicester on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X.
