No more sleeps till the switch on!
York’s Christmas lights will be turned on this evening (Thursday, 14 November) – with special guests joining the fun in a new location.
Here’s what you need to know in a nutshell.
Where
This year the switch on has moved, from St Helen’s Square to Duncombe Place – the magnificent backdrop of York Minster’s West Front will be lit up for the event
When
The fun starts on stage at 6pm. The lights go on at 7pm
Special guests
Special guests this year include England footballer Lucy Staniforth, the stars of the York Theatre Royal panto Sleeping Beauty including Martin Barrass and Susie Cooper, plus of course Father Christmas, courtesy of Castle Howard.
Hosts
The fun will be hosted by town crier Ben Fry and Laura Castle from Minster FM, and BBC Radio York’s Georgey Spanswick.
Music
Before the switch-on Lucy’s Pop Choir will perform, with the Shepherd Group Junior Band ready to play an array of festive tunes.
Lights, shops, drinks
Tonight also marks the start of St Nicholas Fair – with decorated chalets spread across Parliament Street and down into the Coppergate Centre.
Yorkshire Yuletide Village will open in Shambles Market and the festive merry-go-round is in King’s Square – running until 22nd December.
And Thor’s Tipi in Parliament Street has already opened. The Viking inspired pop-up bar be open from 10am to 11pm daily from 13 November 2019 through to 1st January 2020, excluding Christmas Day.
The switch-on is jointly organised by Make It York and York BID (Business Improvement District).
York BID, which organises York’s annual display of Christmas lights throughout the city centre has commissioned even more lights for Duncombe Place, including sympathetic lighting that will highlight well known landmarks such as the Boer War Memorial, St Michael Le Belfry and the Minster.