Christmas lights switch-ons across the North West

BBC
·6 min read
Woman wearing a red coat with a cream woolly hat stood with a boy wearing a dark coloured coat both looking up and surrounded by small white lights
Christmas events are taking place across the region [Chester Zoo]

Cheshire

Chester: The city's Christmas lights will arrive in the city on Friday 15 November.

During the 12 Days of Christmas Parade, each street will be illuminated as the parade passes through on Thursday 21 November.

The Christmas Tree Festival Light Switch-on at Chester Cathedral will also take place on the same day.

This year, there will be 80 Christmas trees festooned with thousands of lights throughout the cathedral.

Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo returns this year on Friday 15 November.

The Christmas lights trail will feature animal puppets including energetic meerkats, colourful peacocks, and playful snow leopards, as well as the favourites from previous years.

The trail also features giant candy canes, neon walkways, and oversized festive baubles will take place each evening between 16:30 - 20:00 GMT until Wednesday 1 January.

Northwich: Luminate Live, an illuminated trail, is held at Arley Hall from 30 November - 24 December.

Neston: The community-run Christmas lights switch-on will take place this year on Saturday 30 November.

Funded by Neston Town Council, the event starts at 11:00 and will feature festive music, a food and craft market, as well as free events including gingerbread-decorating and lantern-making workshops.

Santa will be in his Narnia-themed grotto in Neston Library from 13:30 to 17:00 before walking from the parish church to The Cross, accompanied by local children carrying their lanterns, at 18:00.

Stockton Heath: The Christmas lights will be switched on in Stockton Heath on Sunday 1 December at 16:30.

Music from Birchwood brass band and local primary school choirs will sing in the festive season as the lights are switched on by parish council chair Laurence Murphy.

A young child with blonde hair wearing a cream knitted jumper touches the nose of leopard lantern puppet at Chester Zoo
Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo returns on Friday 15 November [Chester Zoo]

Greater Manchester

Altrincham: Christmas begins at Dunham Massey on 15 November and runs until 1 January. The festivities include lights, installations, and seasonal music in the gardens.

Manchester: The Manchester Christmas Parade, now in its third year, will take place on Sunday 8 December.

Over 400 participants will be parading through the streets, and this year's centre-piece is expected to be Manchester's Elf Express.

There will be no lights switch-on in the city centre due to ongoing construction works, the council said.

Printworks in Manchester city centre is set to transform its digital ceiling for the festive season as it hosts its first-ever Christmas lights switch-on.

A laser show and ceiling screens will set the stage for the grand Christmas switch-on by TV personality Jake Quickenden who will also light up the 16ft (4.9m) tall Christmas tree.

The celebration kicks off with a festive street party open to all on Friday 29 November between 18:00-20:00.

Rochdale: The Ignite Fire Festival will be transforming the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall for three evenings from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 November.

Fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations will take place each between 17:00 and 20:00 each evening.

The Christmas lights switch-on will take place on Sunday 24 November 2024.

Wigan and Leigh: Both towns will see the annual Christmas lights switch-ons take place as part of the the annual Frost Festivals.

Frost Festival Wigan will take place on Sunday 24 November and Frost Festival Leigh will take place on Sunday 17 November.

Leigh will host the Light Up Leigh Christmas lantern parade while Wigan will welcome the Santa Parade, featuring local community groups and performers.

Salford: RHS Glow begins at RHS Garden Bridgewater on 27 November. It includes an illuminated trail and light show performances.

A woman wearing a red hat riding a reindeer puppet in Manchester city centre
The Manchester Christmas Parade is now in its third year [Manchester City Council]

Lancashire

Blackburn: This year the town's Christmas lights switch-on will be called Circus of The Moon, which organisers say will "bring a carnival atmosphere to the town centre".

Light projections, circus performers, workshops, live music and a stage show are set for the event on Saturday 23 November.

Organised by Blackburn Business Improvement District and supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council. Visitors will also have free access to The Museum of the Moon at Blackburn Cathedral during the event.

Chorley: The Chorley Christmas Lights Switch-on and Totally Locally Christmas Market will return to the town on Sunday 17 November.

The market opens at 10:00 and special guest Shane Lynch, of Chorley FC and Boyzone, will be switching the lights on at 17:00.

Performances on the Market Street stage, hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver, start at 13:00.

Darwen: This year's Christmas lights switch on will take place on Saturday 16 November 2024.

The event at Darwen Market Square starts at 10:00 with festive markets, brass bands and storytelling with Father Christmas.

The party starts at 14:00 and will include performances from 90s electro dance group K-Klass who will be performing their 90s hits ‘Rhythm is a Mystery’ and ‘Let Me Show You.’

Preston: This year's Christmas lights switch-on will take place at the city's Flag Market on Saturday 23 November.

The event, organised by Preston BID, will feature a performance by legendary band The Drifters as part of their UK tour and promises a "big party".

Free parking will be available across the city and the event will take place between 17:30 and 20:15.

A dark haired man and a blonde woman both wearing dark coats looking up at Christmas lights
Christmas lights will be switched-on as part of festive celebrations [Chester Zoo]

Merseyside

Formby: The annual Formby Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place on Thursday 21 November.

The event starts in the village at 15:00 and Father Christmas will make an appearance at 15:30.

Entertainment starts at 16:00 and the big switch on takes place at 19:00.

Liverpool: While there is no official switch-on event in the city the Christmas Lights will be on from Thursday 14 November.

The city is Liverpool also set to become the stage for a giant hide and seek game with The Elf on the Shelf Scout Elf when a 15ft (4.6m) tall elf will appear at locations across the city centre.

Organised by Liverpool BID Company, the Scout Elf will be moved at night to various locations around the city centre from 1 December until Christmas Eve and people will be invited to seek him out each morning and snap a selfie.

Kirkby: The Christmas lights switch on will take place in Kirkby Town Centre on Friday 22 November between 15:30 and 19:00.

The headline performance will be by Ian Van Dahl, best known for the hit song Castles in the Sky.

Baby D, known for hit song Let me be your fantasy, and Dene Michael of Black Lace will also perform and there will also be performances by local community groups.

Knowsley: The Christmas lights extravaganza returns to Knowsley Safari on 30 November when the foot safari will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland.

Visitors to the park's Enchanted event can wander among illuminated animals, including camels, wolves, giraffes and lion cubs. The Winter Village also returns with a sparkling light tunnel and there will be a new Santa Panto.

The event runs between Saturday 30 November and Monday 23 December.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

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