Towns and cities across the United Kingdom will soon be turned in to Christmas wonderlands with Christmas lights being turned on during the next week or two.
Turning the Christmas lights on is now big business in some towns and cities, with ‘celebrities’ and fanfares to greet the beginning of the festive season.
Some turn on this weekend, so here is a breakdown of many around the UK, as well as those with entertainment line-ups too.
If we’ve missed some, feel free to add them in to the comments section below. Please check official information sources for confirmation before setting off for any of these events. This information is provided in good faith and to our knowledge everything is accurate and correct!
******* This information was for 2014*******
Christmas Light Switch-Ons 2014 (A to Z)
Aberdeen
23rd November – Lights switch-on and parade
27th November – Tree switch-on
Barnsley
19th November – Lights switch-on with Noddy and DJ Simon Hirst at Town Hall
Bath
12th November – Lights switch-on with musical entertainment and appearances from stars of Bath Rugby.
Belfast
15th November – Lights switch-on with Lord Mayor Councillor Nichola Mallon and special guests at Donegall Square.
Birmingham
8th November – Lights switch-on with Christmas parade through the city.
Blackpool
22nd November – Lights switch-on. Blackpool Illuminations are lit until 9th November.
Bradford
15th November – Lights switch-on with entertainment from Belgian theatre group, Theater Tol.
Brighton
13th November – Lights switch-on with musical performances and very special guests.
Bristol
7th November – Lights switch-on at Cabot Circus and surrounds, includes a choir and Christmas carols.
Cardiff
13th November – Lights switch-on
Chester
20th November – Lights switch-on with start of Christmas Markets
Cork
13th November – Lights switch-on
Coventry
26th November – Lights switch-on. Entertainment and guests to be confirmed.
Derby
15th November – Lights switch-on
Doncaster
13th November – Lights switch-on plus parade.
Dublin
13th November – Lights switch-on
Durham
16th November – Lights switch-on with an evening of entertainment hosted by Maxie Peters.
Edinburgh
23rd November – Lights switch-on with Light Night event.
Exeter
20th November – Lights switch-on with Main Stage entertainment.
Glasgow
16th November – Lights switch-on with usual array of entertainment. Ticket ballot window has closed.
Grimsby
13th/14th November – Lights switch-on as part of two-day Christmas event featuring reindeer petting, parade and other family entertainment.
Hereford
19th November – Lights switch-on.
Huddersfield
15th November – Lights switch-on with CBeebies star Dr Ranj.
Hull
27th November – Lights switch-on with musical entertainment from The Opera Guys, and more.
Leeds
13th November – Lights switch-on with a wealth of entertainment, headlined by Sam Bailey.
Leicester
16th November – Check dates for this one as both Visit Leicester and the council website are as easy to navigate as the South China Sea in a rubber dinghy.
Liverpool
7th November – Lights switch-on.
London
6th November – Star-studded switch-on of the lights on Oxford Street, headlined by Cheryl Fernandez Versini.
Manchester
7th November – Comedian Jason Manford leads the celebratory light switch-on at Albert Square.
Newcastle
29th November – Lights switch-on with a full programme of entertainment.
Norwich
20th November – Lights switch-on.
Nottingham
21st November – Lights switch-on with Nottingham Winter Wonderland featuring ice rink, Christmas trees and snow-topped cabins in Old Market Square.
Oxford
21-23rd November – Lights will be turned on during the Christmas Light Festival, feature entertainment.
Plymouth
13th November – Light switch-on featuring Lantern Parade.
Portsmouth
20th November – Lights switch-on with entertainment of which is yet to be confirmed.
Sheffield
23rd November – Lights switch-on in city centre with expected attendance of 30,000 people.
Southampton
18th November – Lights switch-on
Stoke-on-Trent
20th November – Lights switch-on in Hanley. Burslem is the following weekend on 28th.
Sunderland
13th November – Lights switch-on with entertainment led by former Steps singer, Faye Tozer.
Swansea
17th November – Lights switch-on with Father Christmas
Wakefield
21st-23rd November – 21st Wakefield Cathedral Precinct, 24th Pontefract Market Place, 25th Castleford Carlton Street.
York
8th November – Lights switch-on.