Leicester is preparing for one of its largest festive seasons to date, with an expanded programme of events including the lighting of a 44-foot Christmas tree, a larger Christmas market, additional ice-skating opportunities, and a range of seasonal performances and activities.
The Christmas in Leicester festivities will begin on Wednesday 19 November, with the city’s annual Christmas Lights Switch-On event taking place from 5pm to 8pm in the city centre. The evening will feature live music, street entertainment, a fun fair, and three separate light switch-on ceremonies.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
According to Cllr Vi Dempster, Assistant City Mayor for Culture, the programme is designed to encourage families to explore the city centre and experience a variety of festive attractions.
“It’s great to see the huge variety of activities taking place across the city this Christmas,” she said. “We’re looking forward to kicking off the celebrations by switching on Leicester’s lights.”
The opening event will start at the Clock Tower with a dance flashmob by local performance company The Movement Project at 5pm.
At 6.30pm, the city’s main decorations — including the Town Hall Square lights and Clock Tower Christmas tree — will be switched on by Rebecca Keatley and Djalenga Scott, cast members from Dick Whittington, this year’s pantomime at De Montfort Hall. They will be joined by Father Christmas, Filbert Fox, and BBC Radio Leicester’s Ady Dayman for the countdown.
Additional light switch-ons will take place at 6.45pm in the Haymarket Shopping Centre, led by the pantomime cast and a representative from Rainbows Children’s Hospice, followed by the Leicester Riders basketball team lighting up St Peter’s Square in Highcross Leicester at 7pm.
Entertainment in Town Hall Square will run throughout the evening, featuring local musical acts including the Leicester Cathedral Choir.
The Christmas Market will return to Gallowtree Gate from 19 November to 28 December, offering an increased number of stalls selling festive goods and food. The market will be accompanied by a Christmas fayre in Highcross Leicester’s St Peter’s Square. A fairground in Humberstone Gate (19 November–26 December) and roaming performers such as The Living Snowglobe and Polar Pip the Polar Bear will contribute to the festive atmosphere.
Leicester’s real ice rink in Jubilee Square will reopen on 28 November and operate until 4 January, providing an extended skating season this year.
Several city venues will host seasonal performances, including The Sound of Music at Curve, Dick Whittington at De Montfort Hall, and the Leicester Guildhall Christmas Fair.
Live music will also feature across the city centre through BID Leicester’s Festive Jams, offering performances from choirs, jazz musicians, and other acts on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the festive period, concluding on Christmas Eve.
A new addition this year is Santa’s Secret Workshop, a free pop-up pantomime in Highcross Leicester running every Saturday from 21 November to 20 December. Santa will also appear at the Haymarket Shopping Centre with his sleigh on 6 December.
The switch-on event will also mark the beginning of late-night shopping across Leicester’s city centre.
Further information, including a festive trail map showing key attractions and events, is available on the Visit Leicester website.
?
