THE DJ and presenter Scott Mills will get the Christmas party started in Leicester tomorrow evening, as he turns on the city’s festive lights.
Scott will be joined on the Haymarket balcony by the Lord Mayor of Leicester to count down to the big switch-on from 6pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 22 November).
Leicester fan Scott, who’ll be appearing in De Montfort Hall’s panto this Christmas, said: “Leicester is fast becoming my second home so when I was asked to switch the lights on, how could I decline!
“I’ll be playing all the festive favourites from the balcony near the Clock Tower so come and say hello, before we light up Leicester for Christmas!”
Before the lights go on at 6.30pm, there’ll be plenty of family fun to enjoy.
From 5pm, Town Hall Square will be filled with the traditional sound of Christmas, with music from the No Bars Orchestra, the EAGA Gospel Choir, the Ratby Crescendo Band and the Syston Band. Visitors will also discover the story of Christmas, with the figures of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus taking their place in the square’s nativity scene, while children should look out for Santa, who’ll be popping in to Town Hall Square to see them.
Bringing festive fun to the city centre will be some cheeky costumed characters, including Horace and Boris, the Bouncy Elves, an 8ft-tall penguin called Blizzard, and an illuminated stilt walker. Look out for them between Town Hall Square and Gallowtree Gate.
On Humberstone Gate, there’ll be festive rides with the Billy Bates Funfair, while the 110ft Wheel of Light on Jubilee Square will be offering a bird’s eye view over Leicester.
There’ll also be plenty of fun at the Haymarket Shopping Centre from 4.45pm, with live entertainment hosted by EavaFM.
Just before 6.30pm, Scott will be joined by the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Dr Susan Barton, and Radio Leicester’s Ady Dayman to count down to Leicester’s big switch-on. A 50ft Christmas tree at the Clock Tower will sparkle with thousands of white lights, while the city centre’s streets will be bathed in colour as 16,000 LED lamps light up.
A spectacular troupe of illuminated drummers will then lead the way to the Haymarket shopping centre for the switch-on of their lights at 6.45pm, before heading for Highcross at 7.15pm, where people can enjoy Bright Christmas – a free immersive light experience featuring 6,000 LED lamps and a festive soundtrack.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke said: “Once again, our lighting team have worked their magic to make sure that Leicester sparkles under thousands of twinkling lights this Christmas.
“The colourful lights provide the backdrop for a great night out in Leicester, whether you’re out with your family, meeting up with friends, or getting Christmas sorted with some late-night shopping.
“The big switch-on is always a brilliant event and we look forward to welcoming people from across the county to the city centre to watch Leicester light up for Christmas.”
