Skip to navigation Skip to search

Festive Line-up for Christmas Lights Switch-on

Council News & Services

Christmas lights 

Families from across Hailsham and surrounding areas are being urged to mark Friday 29th November in their diaries as the date when the town will officially switch on its Christmas lights.

Hailsham is gearing up for a spectacular show on Vicarage Field featuring festive entertainment in addition to the big switch-on, which will see the town centre transformed into a winter wonderland of twinkling Christmas lights.

Santa will be handing out free sweets to children (courtesy of Hailsham Rotary Club) and pupils from Hailsham Community College and Grovelands Community Primary School will be carol singing from 4pm, before the official switch-on of the lights which takes place at 6pm.

The lucky winners of the Best Christmas Pizza Design competition (organised by Domino’s Pizza in partnership with Hailsham Town Council) which will be announced before the switch-on, will join the Town Mayor to press the button and turn on the town’s Christmas lights.

If that was not enough, there will be festive refreshments on sale including candy floss (provided by Hailsham Lions) and roasted chestnuts.

Hailsham FM will be playing Christmas music throughout the event and Hailsham Parish Church will be open to warmly welcome visitors after the switch-on, serving free hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Cllr Nigel Coltman, vice-chairman of the Town Council’s Communities Committee said: “Hailsham’s Christmas lights switch-on is one of the town centre’s biggest annual events and the traditional and tasteful entertainment line-up of live entertainment planned means it’s going to be the best yet!”

“The switch-on event is about bringing the community together to celebrate the countdown to Christmas with their friends and family, and we are hoping that lots of people will come along, take part and join in the fun.”

The Town Council and project partners are also in full swing with the organisation of this year’s Christmas Market, which takes place in Vicarage Field on Saturday 14th December from 9am to 3pm.

The Christmas Market will coincide with Hailsham Farmers’ Market, which will hold a special Christmas event at the Cattle Market site in Market Street, selling locally sourced food and crafts. There will also be festive entertainment on-site and Santa’s Head Elf will be in attendance for the children.

The town centre will be home to a range of stalls selling fine food, Christmas gifts, candles, confectionary and other items at the Christmas Market event in December, and various festive refreshments will be on sale including mulled wine, and roasted chestnuts to tempt visitors.

The event will also feature entertainment in Vicarage Field, including carol singing by Hailsham Voices (11.30am-12.00pm), live music from The Peter Willson Quartet (9.30am-10.15am and 10.30am-11.15am) and The Sussex Stompers (12.30pm-1.15pm and 1.30pm-2.15pm).

There will also be a concert of carols and Christmas music by Wealden Brass at Hailsham Parish Church at 2.30pm (free entry) and a Best Dressed Elf fancy dress competition for children, judging of which will carried out by Santa’s Head Elf at the Cattle Market site in Market Street at midday.

Santa (provided by Hailsham Rotary Club) will be handing out free sweets to children and Hailsham FM will be playing popular Christmas tunes throughout the event.

Hailsham Parish Church will be open to welcome visitors from 11am to 12.30pm, serving free hot drinks.

For further details about the event contact Karen Giddings on 01323 841702 or by email.

File Size
29.10.19.Xmas.Light.Switch-On.Pre.2 88 KB

Enquiries relating to this media release

Terry Hall, Communications Officer
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk