Festive fever hits Tamworth with Christmas Lights Switch-On

The yuletide season will be kicked off in style at the end of this month as the town prepares for the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On and an afternoon of festive entertainment for the whole family.

The past year, much like 2020, has been a challenging one due to the coronavirus pandemic causing events, festivals and the entertainment industry to remain shut.

However, Tamworth Borough Council is delighted to be able to spread the Christmas vibe with residents and visitors through the return of the annual Lights Switch-On event.

The road to Christmas is full of magic, frost and wonder so wrap up warm, grab your friends and family and take a stroll through the town centre on Sunday, November 28 to view the festive entertainment from 3pm onwards.

The event, which will take place in St. Editha’s Square, marks the beginning of the countdown to December 25th. And it will have a number of market stalls throughout Market Street and George Street with Christmas gifts, food and drinks such as mince pies and mulled wine for you to enjoy.

Get ready for the big switch-on at 5pm and jam to live music and entertainment from special guests D-Day Darlings and Riverside RockSchool, at St. Editha’s Square.

New for this year, Tamworth Castle will be lit up with an animated We are Angels projection at 5.30pm showcasing this, and previous, years entries along with children's Christmas themed artworks.

We are also excited to extend the outdoor entertainment to the Castle Grounds with a short 20-30 minute showing of the festive animated movie The Snowman projected on the outside of the castle at 6pm.

The film tells the story of a young boy who builds a snowman which comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. No Christmas is complete without hearing the classic ‘Walking in the Air’ soundtrack – so join us and sing along.

While you are in town, don’t forget to look out for this year’s We are Angels project by New Urban Era (NUE), Tamworth arts group – who are supported by Arts Council England and local grants.

The We are Angels project began last year in partnership with Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts and Events team, South Staffordshire College and Ankerside Shopping Centre.

Shoppers and visitors are encouraged to discover the angel wing art work designed by various local groups and schools and stand in between each wing design, take a selfie and share on social media. The hope is to fill social media with Christmas cheer and angels by tagging in @TamworthArtsandEvents and @NewurbanEra.

New Urban Era founder Vic Brown said: “We’re really pleased to be a part of the Christmas festivities once again.

“We started the We are Angels project last year and it went down great with everyone getting involved and collaborating to do something special for the town. It’s also an opportunity for people to flex their creativity and imagination by creating a fantastic piece of work that will be presented to the public.”

Cllr Robert Pritchard, Deputy Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said: “It’s incredible how fast another year has flown by. Christmas is only a month away but you can already feel the excitement in the air.

“Christmas in Tamworth is special because of the amazing local community we have. It’s been a difficult year once again with the pandemic, so we’re really excited to bring some festive cheer to the people of Tamworth with this family event.

“This is an incredibly popular event in our calendar of free entertainment for residents and visitors and it’s a lovely festive day out.

“We’re delighted that the D-Day Darlings and Rock School, along with other local groups, will be there to help us start the Christmas season in style.”

If you are a trader and would like to set up a stall as part of this year’s lights show, please email TARoutdoorevents@tamworth.gov.uk or contact Mark Kyte of Tamworth Lions by emailing him at mark.kyte@tamworthlions.org.uk.

It is important to note that Tamworth Borough Council reserves the right to cancel this event in line with government advice.

The D-Day Darlings will also be performing at the Assembly Rooms on Sunday, December 19. For more information, visit Whats on rv | Tamworth Arts and Events.

You can now book for a Christmas matinee in November and December, performed by Revival UK, the producers of the D-Day Darlings. Further details can be found on our website at www.tamworth.gov.uk/its-christmas-matinee-showtime.