Are you switched on about county lights events?
‘WORLD’S TALLEST ELF’ AMONG THE GOODIES AND GROTTO FUN PLANS
WITH just under seven weeks to go until Christmas Day, fabulous festive lights will soon be switched on around the county, as the countdown to the big day begins.
Over the coming weeks, there are lots of fun-filled events taking place, featuring children’s entertainment, live music and fireworks, as well as those all-important switch-ons.
Here is our illuminating guide on when the Christmas lights are being switched on across the county.
Leicester: Thursday, November 18
In order to avoid the spread of Covid-19, there will be no stage programme in Humberstone Gate.
Instead, a countdown will be played out on speakers at 6.30pm to herald the start of the festive season.
During the evening there will be food, films and music while costumed characters and performers roam the streets.
The city’s traditional nativity scene and a festive tableau scene, featuring a new augmented reality experience for youngsters, will be installed in Town Hall Square.
Hinckley: Friday, November 19
The switch-on and Tin Hat Fair will start at 4pm with live stage entertainment run by Fosse 107 DJs in Market Place, followed by the lights switch-on at 6.30pm.
Stage entertainment will continue until 8pm and there will be a fourminute fireworks display from Argents Mead at 6.45pm.
A range of market stalls will be along Castle Street and many of Hinckley’s shops will be open for late-night shopping.
Children can also visit Santa in his grotto outside Jaspers in Castle Street. There will be a small charge, with money given to charity. The United Reformed Church in Regent Street will also be open for free children’s Christmas craft activities.
Free street entertainment will be all evening, including cheeky elves wandering around town with their Elfie Selfie station, and John Parnell “Hoop guy” will be in town as the world’s tallest elf. There will also be an LED fairy blowing bubbles around the town.
The traditional Tin Hat Fair will take place in Regent Street, George Street and the Borough up until 10pm on Friday. The fair will continue on Saturday, November 20, from noon to 10pm. Rides are chargeable.
Market Harborough: Friday, November 19
There will be a Christmas market and late-night shopping at businesses, as well as the lights switchon.
Oadby: Saturday, November 20
Oadby’s festive lights switch-on event will take place from 2pm until 7pm.
In The Parade, the event will include more than 40 stalls, entertainment, meet and greets with favourite characters from children’s TV, Santa’s Grotto and more.
Lights will be switched on at 6pm.
Loughborough: Sunday, November 21
There will be stalls, a market and entertainment.
The event will be on from 11am, with the switch-on happening at 5pm.
Blaby: Friday, November 26
Blaby’s switch-on event is happenavailable ing from 3pm until 8pm. Christmas lights will be switched on at 7pm.
There will be a programme of entertainment on the new stage, as well as stalls with activities and gifts, fairground rides, food stalls and more. Plus, people will have the chance to meet some special Christmas guests.
This year, the lights switch-on will also be streamed live on Blaby Parish Council Facebook page.
Lutterworth: Friday, November 26
Lutterworth’s Christmas lights switch-on will include Santa’s grotto, Lutterworth Town Band, a funfair, mulled wine, a hog roast and onstage entertainment, as well as the lights switch-on at 7.30pm.
This will be followed by a fireworks display. There will also be a Christmas market, with stalls outside on the market square and inside the Town Hall, selling a wide range of Christmas gifts and treats from 3.30pm to 8pm.
Town centre businesses will also be opening late.
Earl Shilton: Friday, November 26
The entertainment starts at 5.30pm with the Arts Academy of Dance putting on a show, followed by the Leicestershire Co-op (Snibston) brass band. Special guests 4th Avenue will be performing a selection of Christmas tunes and their most popular songs between 6.45pm and 7.45pm.
They will switch on the lights at 7pm. Santa will be welcoming visitors to his grotto and there will be fairground rides for children, plus a range of food and charity stalls.
Coalville: Saturday, November 27
The Christmas lights celebration in Coalville will include live entertainment, Santa and his elf, festive stalls and the Christmas lights switch-on.
Quorn: Sunday, November 28
It will be a smaller affair in Quorn this year due to the threat from Covid-19, but there will be a fairground in The White Horse car park from noon until 6pm.
There will also be the chance to visit Santa’s Grotto, and there will also be a stage with entertainment and from there, the lights will be turned on at 4.45pm.
All the local restaurants will be open, serving takeaway Christmas food.
Mountsorrel: Sunday, December 5
The Mountsorrel Christmas lights switch-on will have a Christmas craft fair at the Memorial Centre from 11am until 3pm, then entertainment and food stalls outside.
Santa Claus will be popping by to say hello from 1pm until 5.30pm. The Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm.