City Centre to sparkle as Plymouth's Christmas celebrations begin

5th November 2024

Plymouth City Centre Christmas Lights Switch On is set to kickstart the festive season in Plymouth on Thursday November 14.  

Players from Plymouth Argyle Women FC Team will be kick-starting this year’s Christmas celebrations in Plymouth, with switching on the spectacular Plymouth City Centre Christmas Lights, on Thursday 14 November. Joining the three players will be Briana Craig, who is Snow White in the Theatre Royal Plymouth pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Tina Tuohy and Santa, will be on the stage joining in with the countdown to illuminating the city centre with colour and Christmas cheer.

The main family fun entertainment starts at 4pm from the stage on the Piazza, with performances from local dance, theatre and singing groups, with the big switch-on moment starting at 6.20pm.

The evening will finish with a lively performance from Joey the Lips, who will have the crowds dancing and singing along to their ten-piece funk and soul band – playing big hits for everyone to enjoy.

The Christmas lights switch-on is supported by Morgan Sindall Construction and run by the Plymouth City Centre Company.

New for this year will be some entertainment earlier in the day in the newly opened space in Old Town Street, with live music from Manuka, giving shoppers and visitors the opportunity to come in early and see how the city centre improvements have taken shape.

Steve Hughes, Chief Executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: “The Christmas lights switch-on is always a special night but we are especially pleased that this year we will also be able to make use of the new space in New George Street and Old Town Street to put on even more entertainment.”

Graham Kingdon, Area Director, Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Plymouth City Centre’s Christmas Lights Switch-on event again this year. We can’t wait to see the city centre illuminated with colourful Christmas lights. We hope everyone has a wonderful time at this festive event. From all the team at Morgan Sindall - we wish you a very Merry Christmas!”

A jam packed programme of entertainemnet is planned for the event with performance acts taking to the stage in the build-up to the main event before Joey the Lips perform after the switch on. Check out the full programme. 

The bright lights and Christmas cheer is being spread right across the city centre, starting with Manuka performing at the brand-new events space at Old Town Street square from 3pm to 4.30pm.

Drake Circus will also be switching on their Christmas lights on Thursday 14 November, with festive entertainment from 3.30pm and the switch-on at 5pm.

This is also the beginning of the Christmas late-night shopping period, where many shops will be open until 9pm every Thursday from the 14 November to the 19 December.

Shoppers and visitors can look forward to the city centre being transformed into a beautiful Christmas Market, from Thursday 28 November to Sunday 15 December. Log cabins will fill the Piazza festooned with twinkly lights and colourful garlands - home to over 50 stalls selling unique and hand-crafted gifts, decorations, clothing and much more. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of delicious festive foods, from warming mulled wine to tasty Yorkshire pudding wraps, and soak up the Christmassy atmosphere with daily entertainment.

This year’s Christmas lights switch-on event and the Plymouth Christmas Market are part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Discover more information about what's happening this Christmas in Plymouth.