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Get into the festive spirit at Scunthorpe Christmas Lights Switch On

Tourism, Museums and The Arts
10:00, Monday, 19th November 2018

Join us for this year’s Scunthorpe Christmas Light Switch On on Saturday 24 November for an all-day fire and ice extravaganza.

To ignite the Christmas spirit in North Lincolnshire, the Festive Continental Street Market will adorn the High Street in Scunthorpe from Wednesday 21 November to Saturday 24 November, 10am to 5pm. You’ll be able to explore the stalls and try food from across the world.

Lincs FM will be hosting the Christmas Light Switch On once again on the Saturday (24 November) in Church Square from 3.30pm with entertainment from Ariana Grande by Amilia and a children’s entertainer live on stage. The lights will be switched on at 5pm by Annie Fanny.

Following the lights being switched on, the sky will be lit up with a spectacular firework display.

There will be plenty of festive cheer up and down the high street and in Church Square from 10am, including

  • The Ice King and Queen, and Olaf entertaining the crowds
  • Fairground rides
  • Giant snow globe where families can have their photo taken
  • Reindeers in Foundry Square from 2pm to 4.30pm

Elsewhere, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre will be offering a range of craft activities throughout the day, and you can get involved in fire and ice experiments with the North Lincolnshire Children’s University in the Education Room from 1pm to 5pm.

At Scunthorpe Central there will be Christmas themed stories and crafts all day.

Santa will be paying a visit to Scunthorpe and you’ll find him in his grotto at Oldrids department store between 10am and 4pm, as well as every Saturday in the lead up to Christmas.

A special fire display will take place between 2.30pm and 3pm on Jubilee Way.

There will be a fire and ice themed fancy dress competition. The winners of the competition will be announced on the Lincs FM stage in Church Square by Annie Fanny.

Lincs FM will be in The Foundry from 2pm and switch their lights on at 4pm.

Join in the festive treasure hunt throughout the town centre to be in with a chance of winning a Christmas hamper. The treasure hunt will run until Christmas Eve. Pick up your treasure hunt sheets from Oldrids. On Christmas Eve, the winner of the fantastic Christmas hamper that includes a range of gifts donated from High Street retailers, will be announced.

Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire will be open on the Saturday from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. Their British Steel workshop will be open, hot drinks will be available for visitors, they will have a selection of engineering machinery and literature in the workshop and there will be Christmas music and decorations. Access to the UTC will be through the gates close to 20-21 Visual Arts Centre.

Free parking is available in Scunthorpe town centre all day on Saturdays and Sundays, two hours in the week and after 2pm in The Parishes.

Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:

“This year our all-day Christmas Lights Switch On event is filled to the brim with festive cheer and activities. The Continental Street Market will be offering unique Christmas gifts and delicious foods for you to try.

“There will be lots of children’s activities taking place throughout the day that the whole family will enjoy before the Christmas lights are switched on in Church Square. It will all then come to an end with a spectacular fireworks display.

“With all-day free parking on a Saturday in the town centre you don’t need to worry. It’s the perfect opportunity to do a bit of Christmas shopping. You are guaranteed a fantastic day out so make sure you don’t miss it.”

Fancy dress competition

We’re running a special fire and ice themed fancy dress competition. We have two categories children can enter into:

– 0 to five years-old
– Six to 10 years-old

To take part please come along to the Switch On and gather in the main gallery of 20-21 Visual Arts Centre at 4pm to show off your costume.

The children with the best themed costumes will then be invited to go on the Lincs FM stage at 4.50pm where a winner will be picked by everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Annie Fanny, and prize awarded. Fire up your imagination and get ready to snow-off your best fire and ice themed costumes!