Here It Comes…. Switching On Guildford’s Christmas Lights, Thursday, November 15

Published on: 7 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 6 Nov, 2018

Guildford’s annual Christmas lights switch-on extravaganza takes place in the town centre on Thursday, November 15.

It promises entertainment for all the family from noon until late, with the lights switched on at 7pm, followed by a firework finale, sponsored by White Lion Walk.

Guildford town centre will be lit up for Christmas at the annual switching on of the lights on Thursday, November 15.

There will be Santa’s reindeers and unicorns, live music all afternoon on the Experience Guildford stage, Guildford Fringe Buskers’ Corner, and don’t miss the mascot parade!

The Guildhall balcony show begins at 6pm, hosted, as ever, by Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon. He will be joined by local sports stars and the cast of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre pantomime including actress and singer Michelle Gayle.

Experience Guildford, that helps to promote and support the town’s retail and business community, has a new competition that everyone with a mobile phone can get involved with. On November 15, simply find its Christmas elves (you’ll spot them by their costumes dashing around from 3pm to 8pm), snap a selfie with them and share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the tag: #ElfieSelfie and #GuildfordLights, to be entered in to a prize draw to win a family ticket to this year’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre pantomime, Cinderella.

Programme for the day:

Noon to 6pm: Say hello to some of Santa’s reindeer on the Rotunda at the bottom of North Street.

3pm to 5pm: See unicorns from My Little Unicorn outside Debenhams or trotting up the High Street.

4pm: Experience Guildford stage opens outside Holy Trinity Church. With: Rock Choir (4pm), Babama House Duo (4.30pm), Emma Stevens (5pm), and Nefarious Picaroons (5.30pm).

4pm: Catch more live music at the Guildford Fringe Buskers’ Corner by the Scholar Statue in the High Street, including Majella Yorston, Performance Preparation Academy and various local choirs.

4.30pm onwards: music and entertainment inside Tunsgate Quarter shopping centre provided by Guildford Fringe.

5pm: Join the mascot parade up the High Street, starting from White Lion Walk, led by Guildford and Godalming Rock Choir.

6pm: Countdown to the switch on with the balcony show from the Guildhall, with Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon and the stars of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre panto.

7pm: The Christmas lights will be switched on, followed by a fireworks display. The balcony show will also be broadcast on two big screens, opposite Marks & Spencer store and above the Experience Guildford stage.

7.15pm: Boogie the evening away with Latitude (ACM house band) on the Experience Guildford stage.

7.15pm: There will be choirs performing at Guildford Fringe Buskers’ Corner, Tunsgate Quarter shopping centre, Tunsgate, Market Street and on the Rotunda.

The event is being organised by Guildford Borough Council and Experience Guildford, supported by 96.4 Eagle Radio.