City of Lincoln Council’s Civic Party, along with special celebrity guests will kick-start Christmas in the city with a light switch-on event later this year.
This year's event will see the Civic Party light up Lincoln with a new festive light experience.
Taking place on Thursday 23 November at 7pm, the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln Cllr Biff Bean and Mayoress, Wendy Bean, the City Sheriff Cllr Neil Murray and Sheriff’s Lady Dorinda Hudson, plus guests from New Theatre Royal’s 2023 pantomime and media partner BBC Radio Lincolnshire will officially switch on the lights.
The main evening event will see a range of entertainment on Lincoln High Street from 4pm, including festive songs, entertainment, DJ sets, and a special performance from the cast of New Theatre Royal’s Christmas pantomime Aladdin.
Special celebrity guests, who will join the civic party in turning on the High Street lights include Olympic Gold medallist and Strictly Come Dancing Champion Louis Smith MBE and Strictly professional Ian Waite. Joining them on stage will be West End Star Roger Wright, who will play Genie of the Lamp in this year’s Aladdin panto.
Louis, who also won The Masked Dancer, will take the role of the baddy this year – Abanazar, while Ian takes the role of Jasmine’s father: Sultan Cha-Cha-Cha.
New for 2023, the city council has invested more than £140,000 in brand new lighting for the city, which will see lights from Newport Arch, all the way down to St Mark's Street, with some ‘wow’ displayed including a dazzling fairy-light display within Exchequer Gate Arch and a 16m illuminated comet in City Square.
The full programme includes:
- 4pm- 6.10pm: Entertainment TBC
- 6.10pm – 6.15pm: Compere introductions from BBC Radio Lincolnshire
- 6.15pm – 6.50pm: Entertainment TBC
- 6.50pm-6.55pm: A Christmas message from the Mayor of Lincoln
- 6.55pm – 7pm: THE BIG SWITCH ON featuring a switch on musical montage
- 7pm – 7.20pm - DJ set
Cllr Biff Bean, the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln said: “The Lincoln Christmas Light Switch-On event really does kickstart the festivities in the city, and I for one am extremely excited to welcome both visitors and residents to what promises to be an incredible event.
“The city has some fantastic, brand new lights this year and I’m thrilled to be officially switching them on and lighting up Lincoln!”
Natalie Hayes-Cowley, Artistic Director at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln and producer of their pantomime said: “We are thrilled to be involved in this lovely festive event for the city.
“Our incredibly talented cast can’t wait to perform for you all!”
Visitors will also benefit from free car parking between 4pm and 9.30pm on 23 November for the event at any City of Lincoln Council car park by either visiting Lincoln Central Car Park, or by using the PaybyPhone app at all other council-owned car parks in the city.