Cambridge’s Christmas lights switch-on weekend: All the timings
It promises to be a busy weekend in Cambridge as the Christmas lights go on.
The Cambridge Independent is proud to support the Big Switch-on this year, organised by the Cambridge BID.
Independent traders, the Grand Arcade, Lion Yard and The Grafton also have lots of festive activity this weekend.
Here is the full schedule:
:: Saturday November 19
11.30am-3.30pm | The Round Church
Live reindeer and sleigh, with carol concert at 3.30pm
12-4pm | Lion Yard shopping centre
Face painting, a Christmas photo booth, roaming magicians and balloon artists, plus traditional, festive live music
12.30pm | Quayside
Santa arrives on a Scudamore punt to meet children outside Thaikhun Restaurant
2pm | Sussex Street
Magdalene College Chapel Choir carol concert
City centre: Alternative brass band The Brass Funkeys will be meandering through the streets, playing everything from traditional marching numbers to their own unique brand of funked-up covers
5pm | The Grafton centre Lighting of the tree
:: Sunday November 20
11.15am-4pm | Grand Arcade
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Jeremy Sallis introduces acts including X Factor contestant Abbie Dhese-Biggs singing with her guitar, followed with seasonal numbers from choirs and orchestras. There will be a special dance extract from Cambridge Theatre Companies’ Christmas tearjerker; Goodnight Mr Tom, and then the lights will be switched on with a confetti cannon salute at 4pm
- Full timings:
11.20-11.50am – Girton College Choir; 12.00-12.30pm – singer Abigail Dhese Biggs; 12.40-1.10pm – Cambridge Capella (John Lewis Choir); 1.20-1.50pm – Homerton Jazz Orchestra; 2-2.30pm – Cambridge Theatre Company, Goodnight Mister Tom; 2.40-3.10pm – Cambridge Philharmonic Choir; 3.20–3.50pm – Cambridge Rock Choir; 3.50pm – Build up to Big Light Switch-On; 4pm – Grand Arcade Big Light Switch-On with Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust; 11.30-3.30pm | The Round Church; Live reindeer and sleigh
11.45am-5pm | Market Square
Homerton Jazz Band get the day off to a lively start. Performing arts schools Stagecoach, Splitz Cambridge and Razzamataz and pupils at Parkside and Fulbourn Primary schools will perform during the day before the Big Switch-on at 5pm.
- Full timings:
11.50am-12.20pm – Mode 9 and Rcubed (Cambridge Jazz Festival); 12.30-12.50pm – Parkside Federation; 1-1.20pm – Splitz Cambridge; 1.30-1.50pm – Stagecoach; 2-2.20pm – Razzamatazz; 2.30pm-2.50pm – Fulbourn Primary School; 3-3.20pm – Tom Korni; 3.30-4pm – The Awesome Leaves Quintet (Cambridge Jazz Festival) 4.10-4.30pm – Sing! Choir; 4.40-5pm – Big Switch-on: The city’s Christmas lights are switched on by Cambridge United players Josh Coulson and Will Norris, with Marvin the Moose, supported by the Cambridge Independent. The lights will go on at 5pm; 5.15-5.30pm – Finale by Souls Café Gospel Choir
12-4pm | Lion Yard shopping centre
Face painting, a Christmas photo booth, roaming magicians and balloon artists, plus traditional, festive live music
12.30pm | Quayside
Santa arrives on a Scudamore punt to meet children outside Thaikhun Restaurant
Read more about the festive weekend.
View all the festive weekend offers from independent traders in Cambridge.
