Let the Christmas countdown begin! Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) announces key 2024 Christmas dates.
Kickstarting the festive season in Winchester, the popular Christmas Lights Switch On event takes place on Thursday 14 November and back by popular demand, the #IndieWinch chalet returns in collaboration with the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market from 22 November to 22 December.
Winchester Christmas Lights Switch On, 14 November 2024, 4.30pm to 7.30pm
This annual sensational event, organised by Winchester BID and kindly sponsored by Dutton Gregory Solicitors, attracts many thousands of people to the city centre. Taking place in The Broadway outside the Guildhall, the Winchester Christmas lights will be switched on by local heroes nominated by the public. The event will be hosted by Jonny Meah from Heart Radio and promises an evening full of festive fun, with Winchester Round Table’s Santa’s Sleigh and wonderful live performances from The Pilgrims’ School Chamber Choir, Harestock Primary School Choir, Osborne School’s Rubik’s Cube, Winchester Rock Choir, Theatre Royal Winchester, Winchester A Capella, Integr8 Dance, Love Soul Choir, Diva Academy and New York City ‘Breaking’.
Enjoy the snow selfies at the Giant Inflatable Snow Globe which will be located in The Square on the day of the Switch On from 12 noon to 8pm. Visitors to the Snow Globe are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to Spare Change for Lasting Change, Winchester BID’s charity scheme which aims to help reduce street begging and rough sleeping in the city by supporting two local homelessness charities, Trinity Winchester and The Winchester Beacon.
Independent Businesses Chalet at Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, 22 November to 22 December 2024
Winchester BID is hosting a Christmas chalet where a selection of local independent businesses will be trading. Why not visit the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market this festive season and visit the local independent businesses showcasing their Christmas offerings. Whilst you are there, grab a FREE tote bag to promote shopping with local #IndieWinch businesses. The Winchester BID chalet will run for the full duration until the market closes on 22 December.
Here is the list of businesses participating this year:
November: 22nd and 23rd The Well Worn | 24th and 25th Clue Capers | 26th and 27th Suave Owl | 28th and 29th Kingsgate Books and Prints | 30th Montezuma’s
December: 1st Montezuma’s | 2nd and 3rd Jeremy France Jewellers | 4th and 5th Mint Tea Boutique |6th and 7th Bella Crafts | 8th and 9th P&G Wells | 10th and 11th Cupboard of Health | 12th and 13th Eclectic Hound | 14th and 15th Donna Laine Fine Jewellery | 16th Winchester Framing | 17th Canvas Gallery | 18th Cytronex | 19th and 20th Warren and Sons | 21st and 22nd 99 Vintage
Sarah Davis, Winchester BID Manager, said: “We are delighted to be coordinating the 2024 Winchester Christmas Lights, the switch on event and the #IndieWinch chalet at the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market. The Christmas Lights Switch On kick starts the festive season in Winchester and is a fun, family event that brings together the whole community and helps get everyone in the festive spirit. It is also the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on some of our community heroes, which is why we are in search of well deserving local people to help switch on this year’s lights. A special thank you to the event sponsor Dutton Gregory Solicitors and to all the businesses which sponsor the High Street Christmas tree – we couldn’t do it without you.”
Emma Menzies, Partner and Chair of Dutton Gregory Solicitors, said: “The Christmas Lights ‘Switch On’ always marks the official start of the festive season in Winchester, so Dutton Gregory is delighted to be continuing its sponsorship of the event for a fifth year, and grateful to the team at Winchester BID for its work in creating a celebration that brings so many people in the city together. As a busy and eventful year draws to a close, we wish our clients, Winchester’s business community and residents a very happy and peaceful Christmas.”
For the latest updates, follow #WinchLights, #FestiveWinch and @WinchesterBID on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact Suzy Dierckx via marketing@winchesterbid.co.uk or call 01962 841000.
To find out more about Christmas in Winchester and festive activities in the city and wider district this year, please visit: christmasinwinchester.co.uk.
