Festive spirits rise as Loughborough lights up for Christmas

Ciaran Fagan

29 November 2024 at 11:59 am·1-min read

-Credit: (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

A town business group hopes a series of festive attractions and events will boost Christmas trade for retailers. Love Loughborough unveiled details of its plan to attract shoppers in time for the switch-on of its Christmas lights today, (Friday, November 29).

The free annual Elf on the Shelf event will return, with 34 businesses taking part. Participants will search for 12 elves and be entered into a prize draw to enter a £50 Love Loughborough voucher. The trail is available in person and online until Christmas Eve, (Tuesday December 24).

The Love Loughborough Gardeners’ Christmas Fair will take over the town centre on Sunday, December 8. More than 100 stalls selling festive plants, wreaths, Christmas trees as well as artisan craft stalls for festive gifts and refreshments.

There will also be a festive workshop in the Odeon where families can enjoy crafts, entertainment, face painting and meet Santa. The Love Loughborough Food and Drink Fair will take place in the town centre on Sunday, December 22.

BID manager Lisa Brown said: "Christmas is an important time for traders and we’re doing everything we can to help increase footfall and create a magical experience to visitors over the next month."

These events and initiative are all part of the ongoing support Loughborough BID provides to businesses to increase footfall into the town and boost the local economy. The Loughborough BID was set up in February 2012 following a vote of town centre businesses.

It represents 600 businesses across all sectors that each pay an annual levy to fund the improvements. A board of directors made up of BID businesses oversees the delivery and management of the scheme.

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