North West Christmas Light Displays and Festive Events Unveiled

Chester: The installation of Chester’s Christmas lights is set for Friday, November 15. On Thursday, November 21, streets will be lit up sequentially as the 12 Days of Christmas Parade proceeds. The Christmas Tree Festival Light Switch-on at Chester Cathedral is also slated for the same date. Eighty Christmas trees, adorned with thousands of lights, will be displayed throughout the cathedral this year. Chester Zoo’s Lanterns and Light event will recommence this year on Friday, November 15. The Christmas lights trail will showcase animal puppets, such as lively meerkats, vibrant peacocks, and spirited snow leopards, alongside returning popular figures from prior years. Additionally, the trail incorporates giant candy canes, neon pathways, and large festive baubles, operating nightly from 16:30 to 20:00 GMT until Wednesday, January 1. Northwich: Arley Hall will host Luminate Live, an illuminated trail, from November 30 to December 24. Neston: Neston’s community-organized Christmas lights switch-on event is scheduled for Saturday, November 30, this year. This event, supported by Neston Town Council, commences at 11:00 and will offer festive music, a food and craft market, and complimentary activities such as gingerbread-decorating and lantern-making workshops. Santa Claus will be present in his Narnia-themed grotto at Neston Library from 13:30 to 17:00, subsequently proceeding from the parish church to The Cross at 18:00, joined by local children carrying their lanterns. Stockton Heath: Stockton Heath’s Christmas lights will be activated on Sunday, December 1, at 16:30. The festive season will be welcomed with music from the Birchwood brass band and local primary school choirs, preceding the lights being switched on by parish council chair Laurence Murphy. Altrincham: Dunham Massey will initiate its Christmas festivities on November 15, continuing until January 1. These celebrations encompass lights, various installations, and seasonal music within the gardens. Manchester: The Manchester Christmas Parade, now in its third iteration, is set for Sunday, December 8. More than 400 individuals will parade through the streets, with Manchester’s Elf Express anticipated to be this year’s central attraction. The council stated that no lights switch-on event will occur in the city centre this year, citing ongoing construction works. Printworks, located in Manchester city centre, plans to alter its digital ceiling for the holiday period as it stages its inaugural Christmas lights switch-on. A laser show and ceiling screens will precede the main Christmas switch-on, performed by TV personality Jake Quickenden, who will also illuminate the 16ft (4.9m) tall Christmas tree. The festivities will commence with a public festive street party on Friday, November 29, between 18:00 and 20:00. Rochdale: The Ignite Fire Festival is scheduled to transform the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall over three evenings, from Friday, November 22, to Sunday, November 24. Fiery displays, glowing sculptures, and illuminated installations will be presented nightly between 17:00 and 20:00. The Christmas lights switch-on event is slated for Sunday, November 24, 2024. Wigan and Leigh: The annual Christmas lights switch-ons in both Wigan and Leigh will occur as components of their respective annual Frost Festivals. Frost Festival Wigan is scheduled for Sunday, November 24, while Frost Festival Leigh will be held on Sunday, November 17. Leigh will present the Light Up Leigh Christmas lantern parade, whereas Wigan will host the Santa Parade, which will include local community groups and performers. Salford: RHS Glow will launch at RHS Garden Bridgewater on November 27. This event features an illuminated trail and light show presentations. Blackburn: Blackburn’s Christmas lights switch-on this year, named Circus of The Moon, is intended by organisers to “bring a carnival atmosphere to the town centre”. Light projections, circus acts, workshops, live music, and a stage show are planned for the event on Saturday, November 23. The event is organized by Blackburn Business Improvement District and receives support from Blackburn with Darwen Council. Attendees will also be granted complimentary access to The Museum of the Moon at Blackburn Cathedral throughout the event. Chorley: Chorley’s Christmas Lights Switch-on and the Totally Locally Christmas Market are set to return to the town on Sunday, November 17. The market will open at 10:00, with special guest Shane Lynch, associated with Chorley FC and Boyzone, performing the lights switch-on at 17:00. Performances on the Market Street stage, presented by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver, will commence at 13:00. Darwen: Darwen’s Christmas lights switch-on for this year is scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024. The event at Darwen Market Square will begin at 10:00, featuring festive markets, brass bands, and storytelling sessions with Father Christmas. The celebration will commence at 14:00, including performances by the 90s electro dance group K-Klass, who will play their 90s hits ‘Rhythm is a Mystery’ and ‘Let Me Show You.’ Preston: Preston’s Christmas lights switch-on for this year is planned for the city’s Flag Market on Saturday, November 23. The event, arranged by Preston BID, will include a performance by the renowned band The Drifters as part of their UK tour and is billed as a “big party”. Complimentary parking will be accessible throughout the city, and the event will run from 17:30 to 20:15. Leyland: At the Lighting Up Leyland event, Coronation Street and Benidorm actor Tony Maudsley, alongside singer Nathan Moore, will have the honor of activating Leyland’s Christmas lights for 2024. This event, hosted by South Ribble Borough Council in collaboration with Leyland Town Team, is scheduled for Saturday, November 30. The event will begin at 12:00 GMT, featuring market stalls, children’s attractions, street food, and live music and entertainment on stage from 15:00 GMT, with the primary switch-on event occurring at 17:30 BST. Formby: Formby’s annual Christmas Lights Switch-On is set for Thursday, November 21. The village event commences at 15:00, with Father Christmas making an appearance at 15:30. Entertainment will begin at 16:00, and the main switch-on will occur at 19:00. Liverpool: Although no official switch-on event is planned for Liverpool, the city’s Christmas Lights will be illuminated starting Thursday, November 14. Liverpool is also poised to host a giant hide-and-seek game featuring The Elf on the Shelf Scout Elf, with a 15ft (4.6m) tall elf appearing at various city centre locations. Organized by Liverpool BID Company, the Scout Elf will be relocated nightly to different city centre spots from December 1 until Christmas Eve, with the public encouraged to find him each morning and take a selfie. Kirkby: Kirkby Town Centre will host its Christmas lights switch-on on Friday, November 22, from 15:30 to 19:00. The main performance will be delivered by Ian Van Dahl, widely recognized for the hit song Castles in the Sky. Baby D, famous for the hit song Let me be your fantasy, and Dene Michael of Black Lace are also scheduled to perform, alongside acts from local community groups. Knowsley: Knowsley Safari’s Christmas lights extravaganza will recommence on November 30, transforming the foot safari into a magical winter wonderland. Attendees of the park’s Enchanted event can stroll among illuminated animals, such as camels, wolves, giraffes, and lion cubs. The Winter Village will also reappear, featuring a sparkling light tunnel and a new Santa Panto. The event is scheduled to run from Saturday, November 30, to Monday, December 23.