We’re delighted to announce that the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On event will be extended into a day-long festival of free workshops, activities and entertainment for the first time this year.
On Saturday 20th November, local families and residents are invited to come and spend the day in Newbury town centre for a whole host of festive fun. Between 10am and 5pm, visitors can enjoy a full programme of over 20 free festive activities at select venues across the town centre. From 5pm, live entertainment and performances will occupy a screened stage in the Market Place in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Christmas Lights Switch-On. Frozen ice-queen sisters will be on stage to ‘let it go’ post switch-on and the live music and performances will continue until 9pm.
We’re confident that the day’s programme of free family activities, including cookie decorating, Christmas wreath making, character meet and greets, and pop-up choirs, will help enhance Newbury’s festive offering more so than ever before, only strengthened by their recently announced three-day Victorian Christmas Fayre.
The free family friendly try-out activities and workshops, are as follows*:
Family Panto Workshop at Newbury Town Hall
Santa’s Grotto at Parkway
Festive Papercraft and Decopatch Drop-In Workshops at The Globe’s Garden
Family Christmas Songs Workshop at Hogan Music
Christmas Card Printing at Camp Hopson**
Alternative Kitch Christmas Wreath at The Dolphin pub
Christmas Tree Decoration Workshop at The Ugly Duckling
Christmas Cupcake and Cookie Decorating with Colline’s Kitchen at Waterside Centre
Christmas Bath Bomb Painting at House of Bubbles, Kennet Shopping
Make Your Own Christmas Cards Workshop at The Works, Kennet Shopping
The Great Cider Mull Off with local cider makers at The Catherine Wheel
The Great British Beer Off Competition at The Spare Wheel
Jewellery Making Workshop at Kreationz, Kennet Shopping
Try-Out High Score Activity Machine in the Market Place
Try-Out Fitness Classes at bstFitness – free entry all day for gym, sauna and swimming pool
Try-Out Mario Kart, Fastest Lap Competition at CEX, Kennet Shopping
Teddy Bear Treasure Hunt at Bas ‘n’ Books, Kennet Shopping
Christmas Colouring Competition at Boswell’s, Kennet Shopping
Name the Cuddly Puppy Competition at Hallmark, Kennet Shopping
And if all that isn’t enough to get you in the festive spirit, classic children’s characters will be visiting Newbury town centre once again, following the success of our summer Family Fun Days.
Meet the Grinch and a Frozen princess at Barry Forkin-Toomers between 3pm and 4:30pm. Newbury Town Council will also be offering tours of the Town Hall on the day of the festival. Children can also take advantage of Parkway Shopping’s Christmas train ride for a small charge.
Alison Drummond, our Operations Manager, states:
Our Christmas Lights Switch-On Festival is set to be the best Newbury has ever had and is yet another event we are delivering as part of a heightened festive offering for Newbury this year! We are so excited to deliver this day-long event for local residents to enjoy and we encourage everyone to take full advantage of the shops and eateries across town that will be open for business ready for you to continue the festive fun in-store on the day
We are so thankful to all of the organisations providing their services to help create a truly special and jam-packed day in Newbury and would like to give a heartfelt shout-out to the businesses which are offering their venue on the day
*All times TBC and venues subject to change, please keep checking back on visitnewbury.org.uk for updates.
** This event is due to fill up fast and has limited capacity so will be a FREE ticketed event. Please click here to book.
For a list of all events taking place in Newbury town centre and beyond, please click here.
