Glasgow Christmas Light Switch On as 10,000 fill George Square

Jonathan Blackburn

17 November 2024 at 4:56 pm·2-min read

A crowd of around 10,000 turned out at George Square on Sunday evening for the Glasgow Christmas Light Switch On.

The event saw George Square bathed in golden light from the strings of snowflake lights above and the huge Christmas tree after an evening of live entertainment. Father Christmas himself turned out to tell the crowd that “Glasgow always behaves itself the best, and that’s why I come here rather than Edinburgh."

The crowd was led in renditions of Jingle Bells and Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, sung by Santa Claus himself, as well as live music from Nathan Evans and the SAINT PHNX BAND, Soul Nation Choir and On Repeat. Radio presenters George Bowie and Cassi Gillespie led the event, and the cast of the Pavilion’s panto Beauty and the Beastie gave a preview of the show.

Tickets for the sold-out event were available via a ballot. Glasgow Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren took to the stage ahead of the switch-on, saying: "It's nearly Christmas, let's have a cheer. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in George Square."

The lights were switched on by competition winner Reighgan Thomson, who said: "That was the most, magical, marvellous night ever, I loved it, now I can’t wait to Christmas." Reighgan was joined on stage by all the performers and Father Christmas for the switching on of the lights.

Glasgow Christmas Lights Switch On at George Square.

After the countdown, the Christmas lights were welcomed with confetti and fireworks as George Square was bathed in golden light. The City Chambers was lit up red and white with a dazzling light show.

The light show will now repeat every 30 minutes in the City Chambers every evening from 3.30pm until 10pm. There are also interactive buttons on the lampposts outside the City Chambers that will allow people to light up the pavement with candy canes, snowflakes and reindeer hooves.

The event marks the beginning of the countdown to Christmas for many in the city, and we can now look forward to Winterfests in George Square and St Enoch’s Square, the Style Mile Christmas Carnival and Santa Dash in the coming weeks.

Presenter George Bowie said: “It feels like the countdown to Christmas really has begun after another brilliant Christmas Lights Switch On, with the wonderful people of Glasgow. Cassi and I love this event and a special thank you Glasgow Life for inviting us to get involved every year, we wouldn’t miss it.”

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