Whitchurch’s Christmas Lights Switch-On Day, Saturday 25th November 2017
Christmas Switch-On Day in Whitchurch is packed with a whole host of activities to get you in the festive spirit!
Whitchurch Town Centre has an outdoor Christmas Market from 12 noon – 6pm, featuring a children’s mini fairground, Father Christmas in his grotto as well as a special new grotto shed with children’s activities and WAODS cast of Cinderella. St John’s Church have their Christmas Fair in the Civic Centre’s Main Hall from 10am – 1pm and Whitchurch Library is running Christmas themed crafts from 11am – 12 noon.
Local dance troupes Maggie May’s and Glo’s Cheerleaders will join us for dance performances throughout the afternoon along with performances from Whitchurch Town Band and Welsh Group Teulu. This year take part in our new “Fairy Door town trail”.
Throughout the day Watergate will be “filling baubles with love” to raise funds for Midlands Air Ambulance and Whitchurch Community Hospital. Don’t forget to visit the independent retail units in the arcade for Christmas refreshments and lots of seasonal offers. Shropshire Council is offering free parking in its car parks from 2pm onwards in the following car parks:
• Newtown • Castle Hill • St John’s Street • Pepper Street • Brownlow Street.
Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:
“It’s great that we can once again support the lights switch-on and Whitchurch’s town centre traders by offering free parking on the afternoon of this special event. I hope people take advantage of this offer and make this an extra special day for the town, and for its businesses.”
The town’s final lantern workshop will be running from 11am – 1pm in the Market Hall with the lantern parade starting its magical journey at 4.30pm. St Alkmund’s Church is hosting its annual crib festival with over 100 different cribs expected. Whitchurch’s independent shops will be celebrating with extended opening hours until 6pm and beyond.
The cast of Whitchurch’s Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society will join us to sing carols outside the Civic Centre, in full costume, in the run up to the switch on. At 5pm the public’s chosen Citizen of the Year, along with the Mayor of Whitchurch, will switch the lights on for Christmas 2017 marking the beginning of the festive season in town. Onlookers will be treated to a short fireworks display followed by a special performance from local band Blozone. Town Mayor Cllr Tony Neville said, “I am really excited to switch on the town’s Christmas lights along with our chosen Citizen of the Year – please make sure you vote before the closing date on 17th November. We have some new lights and attractions in store for Whitchurch this year which we are very much looking forward to revealing to the public.”
Town Centre Manager Zoë Dean enthused: “We really excited to be able to bring such a wealth of activities to our switch on day, thanks to Whitchurch’s local groups joining forces with us. This year live band Blozone is sure to be a hit as we celebrate the lights switch on.”
Join us in Whitchurch for a fun, free day of festive cheer.
Other Christmas Activities in Whitchurch throughout the festive season…
Don’t forget to book your tickets for WAODS pantomime Cinderella which is being held at the Civic Centre from Wednesday 29th November – Saturday 2nd December. Tickets priced from £8.00 – £10.00 and they are available from the Civic Centre’s Community Hub and http://www.waods.net/
Whitchurch’s Independent Retailers will all be opening their doors to trade on Christmas Eve which falls on a Sunday this year. Please support our hardworking local businesses. Keep checking back on our the town website (www.whitchurch.info) for details of which shops/cafe and restaurants will be open during the Christmas break.
Once the festivities are over and you need to dance off some of those mince pies join us on New Year’s Eve for a night of live music featuring popular local band The Review. Disco and entertainment all evening by The Big Show. Sunday 31st December, Whitchurch Civic Centre from 9.30pm – 1.30am. Tickets £15.00 in advance, available from the Community Hub (01948 665761) or £20.00 on the door, to include a glass of fizz at midnight to toast the new year.
