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Shrewsbury’s festive season is set to kick start with a bang as the town’s Christmas Cracker event returns, bigger and better than ever.
The big lights switch-on is being organised by Shrewsbury Town Council, in partnership with Shrewsbury Shopping Centres, and is sponsored by Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID).
The fun begins on November 15 from 5pm, when bands, choirs and acoustic acts from around the region are set to fill the town with a variety of seasonal music and entertainment to mark the start of late night shopping and the launch of the brand new Christmas lights display.
Switching on the lights this year will be Vicky McCabe and Eric Smith from Theatre Severn’s pantomime, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, and the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Jane Mackenzie.
The ever-popular lantern parade will set off from the Darwin Shopping Centre at the earlier time of 5.45pm, heading into the Square for that all-important official countdown at 6.30pm.
Entertainment will continue in various locations around town until the main event finishes at 7.30pm.
Santa and his sleigh will also be on Pride Hill all evening, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury Severn.
For those wanting to take part in the lantern parade, a free lantern workshop is being held on November 11, from 11.30am until 3.30pm, in the former British Heart Foundation Unit in the Darwin Shopping Centre. Participants will then be invited back to take part in the parade as part of the Christmas Cracker celebrations on November 15, although please be aware that there will be restrictions on numbers and pushchairs will not be permitted to join the parade for safety reasons.
Shrewsbury’s shopping centres will be open until 8pm and the Market Hall will stay open until 9pm. Restaurants, including The Birds Nest Café and Spanish tapas eatery Café AleOli, will be open at the market to evening diners, while various gift stalls will open for Christmas shopping. Shoppers will also receive a warming complimentary glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, subject to availability and a retail purchase from stallholders.
Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Jane Mackenzie said: “I am excited about the programme of events that has been scheduled to celebrate the launch of the town’s new Christmas lights, with free family entertainment, and the all-important start of late night shopping in the run-up to Christmas. I would love to see as many people join me for what promises to be a fun-filled evening in Shrewsbury”.
Seb Slater, Shrewsbury BID Executive Director, added: “This is only the beginning of Shrewsbury’s busy Christmas programme, with a wide range of events, markets, late night shopping and free parking on Wednesday evenings coming up. The atmosphere in Shrewsbury at Christmas is always magical, and we are looking forward to seeing the streets illuminated by thousands of lights, adding to our welcoming town centre.”
For further information visit www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk or www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk
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