Festival of Christmas BIG Light Switch On wows crowds in Swindon town centre!

On Saturday 16th November, inSwindon BID Company launched the Festival of Christmas with the annual BIG Light Switch On where thousands gathered across the day to kick-off the festive season.

Christmas was definitely in the air as visitors enjoyed a variety of activities across the town centre including The Brunel Shopping Centre’s FREE Santa’s Grotto and a Street Market in Havelock Square, whilst festive Elves handed out gift cards and candy canes for The Parade, as well as a visit from the MFor Festival Bear in Havelock Square and Santa’s Grotto and music from Swindon Brass at Regent Circus.

Thousands of visitors came together from 5pm in Wharf Green as Swindon pop-soul duo Billy & Louie opened the event with their new Christmas single ‘My Christmas Dream’ to warm up the crowds, before BBC Wiltshire’s Ben Prater and Sam York went on to welcome unique performances from PQA Swindon and Swindon Dance. 

Exclusive appearances took place on stage with this year’s Wyvern Theatre Panto stars, Michelle Collins and CBeebies Chris Jarvis who challenged the audience around their Panto knowledge and talked about rehearsals for Sleeping Beauty which runs at the Wyvern Theatre from Saturday 7th December until Sunday 5th January 2020.

Excitement grew and crowds roared as 2019 headline JLS star, Aston Merrygold, stormed the stage and wowed fans with his smooth vocals and fast-paced footwork for 20-minutes, before being joined by Michelle Collins and Chris Jarvis, Mayor of Swindon Kevin Parry, Leader of the Council David Renard, inSwindon BID CEO Di Powell, Acting Brunel Centre Manager Rob Faulkner and Santa as they switched on the twinkling lights across the town centre and welcomed the much-loved Firework display, sponsored by The Brunel Shopping Centre.

inSwindon BID Chief Executive, Di Powell said ‘We start planning for our BIG Light Switch On very early on in the year and we are thrilled to see that so many joined us across the day to enjoy everything Swindon town centre has to offer. Events like these support the retailers, increase footfall and promotes Swindon as a retail and leisure destination. The Festival of Christmas will celebrate everything ‘Christmas’ taking place in Swindon town centre across the festive season from 16th November - 31st December with our ‘Events Listing’ featured on our website and we hope that visitors will take advantage of everything on offer throughout the season.”
 
inSwindon BID are also encouraging visitors to shop and save local this Christmas, by taking advantage of the many initiatives they provide including the FREE Loyalty Club, which features over 80 offers from stores across the town centre for shoppers to enjoy. FREE Parking Sunday’s are also a reason to shop local in the town centre this Christmas, whilst late night shopping will begin on Thursday’s in December, with a selection of stores remaining open into the evening for those that want to continue their Christmas shopping, enjoy a drink and a bite to eat at The Crossing and Regent Circus. Visit www.swindontowncentre.co.uk to register for the FREE Swindon town centre Loyalty Club.

Information on this and everything ‘Festival of Christmas’ can be found at www.swindontowncentre.co.uk/Christmas