Leicester Christmas lights switch-on: All the timings and entertainment as Ru Paul star does honours

Leicester's annual Christmas lights switch-on takes place tomorrow (Wednesday, November 20), with a host of festive attractions planned for the city centre. A host of 16,000 lights will illuminate the streets, while artificial snow will fall in St Peter's Square.

The celebrations will be hosted by BBC Radio Leicester's Ady Dayman and The Apprentice star Virdi Singh Mazaria on the Haymarket centre's balcony from 5pm. The switch-on moment will take place at around 6.30pm, with RuPaul's Drag Race star Divina De Campo - who is appearing as the Wicked Queen in De Montfort Hall's Snow White pantomime - set to make a special appearance.

Brass bands and choirs will be performing in Town Hall Square from 5pm until 8pm, alongside the square's Christmas trees and traditional nativity scene. At the Haymarket, there will be plenty of festive entertainment from 4.30pm. Santa will appear, along with two LED stilt-walking angels.

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A 15-piece nutcracker marching band will lead a switch-on trail through the city from 6.45pm, starting at the Haymarket, moving to Highcross at 7pm, St Martins at 7:30pm, before returning to Haymarket at 8pm. The Jelly Roller will provide a "Dickensian ding-dong" performance throughout the evening.

The Clock Tower's 15-metre high Christmas tree, sponsored by Highcross Leicester, will be illuminated at 6.30pm. Kirsty Freudenreich, head of operations at Highcross Leicester, said: "We're proud to sponsor this year's Clock Tower Christmas tree, a much-loved focal point of the city's Christmas traditions."

There's also something for the little-ones, with a funfair on Humberstone Gate from noon until 9pm, while the 35m Wheel of Light in Jubilee Square will offer aerial views. The city's new Christmas market on Gallowtree Gate will be open daily from 10am to 7pm until December 29.

Assistant city mayor for culture, Councillor Vi Dempster, said: "Thousands of people flock into the city centre for our switch-on event, and we look forward to welcoming everyone. There's lots going on throughout the festive season for visitors to Leicester."

Extended park and ride services will run until 9pm from Birstall and Meynells Gorse, and 8.55pm from Enderby. The Town Hall Bike Park will offer free, secure parking until 8.30pm.

Timeline of events

12pm: Funfair opens in Humberstone Gate 4.30pm: Entertainment begins at the Haymarket 5pm: Crowds begin gathering at Town Hall Square with brass bands and choirs 5pm: BBC Radio Leicester's Ady Dayman hosts from Haymarket balcony with The Apprentice star Virdi Singh Mazaria 6.30pm: Main switch-on moment with Divina De Campo and artificial snow in St Peter's Square 6.30pm: Clock Tower's 15m Christmas tree illumination 6.45pm: 15-piece nutcracker marching band begins at Haymarket 7pm: Nutcracker band arrives at Highcross 7.30pm: Nutcracker band in St Martins 8pm: Nutcracker band returns to Haymarket

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