Christmas in Leicester is coming!

Leicester is gearing up to celebrate the beginning of the festive season with final preparations underway to ensure the city sparkles this Christmas.

This year’s Christmas lights switch-on celebration will take place on Wednesday 18 November. The night will run from 5pm until 8pm and feature a packed programme of entertainment, including musical performances in Town Hall Square, street performers, funfair rides, festive market stalls, and three separate light switch-on moments across the city centre.

The evening will be hosted by BBC Radio Leicester’s Ady Dayman and DJ OPD, live from the Roxy Ballroom balcony on Humberstone Gate, alongside a special appearance Dame ‘Betty Bonbon’, who will be performing in the De Montfort Hall pantomime Beauty and The Beast.

Together with Town Hall Square and the Town Hall itself, around 20 streets will sparkle with thousands of lights and decorations to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere for families and Christmas shoppers.

The jewel in the crown will be the illuminated Clock Tower Christmas tree, which will be the focus for the first countdown on switch on night.

Families are encouraged to enjoy the entertainment in Town Hall Square, which starts at 5pm and will include a variety of festive musical performances from Taiko drumming to traditional brass bands and carol choirs.

They can then watch as the city centre lights up for Christmas with switch-ons due to take place at the Clock Tower from 6.30pm, at Haymarket Shopping Centre from 6.45pm, and at Highcross from 7pm.

Rather than hosting a temporary ice rink, Jubilee Square will be transformed into a festive winter garden. The centre piece will be the popular illuminated Wheel of Light, a 33ft-high Ferris wheel, which will be open for switch on night.

Then from the first weekend in December, the square will be decked out with festive lights, dozens of snow-covered Christmas trees, illuminated igloos with cosy seating, and more. There will also be live music and seasonal acts on busy weekends.

Leicester’s popular Christmas Market, will be back for a third year on Gallowtree Gate until the end of December, offering a fantastic range of seasonal goods and festive food and drink including German sausages, hot chocolate, roasted cobs, filled Yorkshire puddings and of course, the mulled wine. There will also be loads of stalls selling Christmas gifts and treats.

The Billy Bates fun fair will be in Humberstone Gate from switch on and throughout the festive period, adding thrills and happy screams to the festive atmosphere throughout the Christmas period.

Our theatres will be bringing the Christmas magic to Leicester thanks to a fantastic variety of Christmas shows and events. The Curve Theatre will be putting on a fantastic musical production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory based on the classic movie. This year’s Christmas panto at De Montfort Hall is Beauty and the Beast starring ITV’s Jenny Ryan, returning stars Jarred Christmas and Jack Ballard, and Great British Pantomime Award-nominated Beth Lyons as Belle. There will also be a huge range of festive events across the city including the Leicester Guildhall Christmas Fair and lots more.

A festive trail map showing the location of all the key Christmas attractions, along with details of a huge range of other festive events and activities, will soon be available on our dedicated Christmas minisite.