Hinckley’s Spectacular Christmas Lights switch-on 2021
Hinckley’s spectacular Christmas lights switch-on event will be making a very welcome return to Hinckley Town Centre later this month after the popular annual event had to be cancelled last year.
This year’s event on Friday 19 November will get underway at 4pm. The lights will be switched on in Market Place at 6.30pm by a local hero as chosen by Fosse 107 listeners and the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Cllr Ted Hollick.
The switch-on will be followed at 6.45pm by a fantastic firework display over St Mary’s Church, sponsored by the Borough Council and the Showman’s Guild.
The festivities will get underway from 4pm with a full programme of entertainment taking place on-stage in the Market Place. Stage production and sound will be provided by Fosse 107 and the programme will include performances from St Mary’s school, Hinckley Choral Union, Steve Faulkner, The Drama Academy and Hastings school.
The switch-on will also involve representatives from the Hinckley Ex-Servicemen’s Association and the Royal British Legion at 6.10pm.
In addition to the entertainment in the Market Place, a number of town centre shops will be open, and a special festive market will be held to provide the people with an opportunity to do some timely Christmas shopping.
Meanwhile, children will get a chance to meet Santa in his grotto, courtesy of Hinckley Round Table. The grotto will be located at the top of Castle Street and there will be a small charge for entry in aid of charity. A free Christmas crafts workshop for children will also be taking place at the United Reformed Church from 4pm until 7pm, no booking is necessary. Youngsters can have a go at making a host of Christmas themed crafts such as reindeer food, a nativity star or wooden Christmas decorations.
Free street entertainment will be in Hinckley all evening, alongside the world’s tallest elf there will be three cheeky elves wandering around town with the Elfie Selfie Station, they will be spreading cheer, handing out candy canes, as well as offering rosy-cheek face painting for everyone.
The lights switch-on will also coincide with the staging of the traditional Tin Hat Fair in Regent Street. The fair will be open from 4pm until 10pm on Friday and from 12noon to 10pm on Saturday.
Parking is free from 3pm in all council run car parks on the day of the lights switch-on. All relevant road closure information will be detailed on our Christmas lights switch-on and Tin Hat Fair page or you can use an interactive map to view road closure updates (one.network)
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Leader, Stuart Bray said:
The Christmas lights switch on is always one of the most popular events of the year and after the disappointment of having to cancel the event last year, we’re all looking forward to the return of what is always a good night where we can all support local businesses. I wish everyone a happy and safe time during what promises to be an unforgettable evening.
For those wanting to bring elderly and less mobile residents to view the lights I would recommend our drive through on Wednesday 1 December from 6pm to 8pm. Seeing the lights without all of the crowds is great, and the event will be fully outdoors this year with the United reformed church delivering you a warm drink and mine pie to your vehicle whilst you listen to their community choir sing some carols. This is a great event and I hope as many people as possible will come along to enjoy it.
There will be limited access to Argents Mead from 6.30pm to 7.30pm to accommodate the fireworks. Hinckley Leisure Centre will be open as usual, with access available from St Mary’s Road/Leisure Centre car park side only between 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
Hinckley Christmas lights tour
The annual Hinckley’s Christmas lights tour for elderly and disabled people will be held on Wednesday 1 December.
Castle Street will be open to traffic from 6pm to 8pm to allow the public to drive down with their elderly or disabled family and friends, allowing them to view the lights.
There will be festive music, nativity tableaux and other street entertainment along the route, vehicles will be allowed to park on a section of Regent Street organised by the event marshals on the night. Once parked up, a warm drink and mince pie will be delivered to your vehicle by the United Reformed Church, a change made to the event for this year to keep everyone as safe as possible.
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