Gorleston to be lit up with return of Christmas lights switch-on

This year, the event will take over Gorleston High Street on Sunday, November 17, between noon and 6:30pm, with an array of exciting activities and entertainment to spread holiday cheer.

Those looking to do a spot of Christmas shopping can browse vendors who will line the street selling a wide range of handmade crafts and gifts, as well as festive foods, drinks and sweet treats. The shops along the high street will also be open for business.

Visitors will be serenaded with a packed schedule of live music from Freshly Greated's Play Produce Promote project, which has organised a festive playlist of young local talent to perform throughout the day. They will be supported by Harbour Radio who will be playing festive tunes guaranteed to get everyone feeling the Christmas spirit. There will also be entertainment at The Vault between 2pm and 4pm. 

There will also be a festive Elf Trail that will start and finish at The Vault. Children are invited to pick up a leaflet from there and then find decorated skateboards hidden in shop windows, which will all have a letter designed on to them. Once all the letters are collected, youngsters can then unscramble them to discover a Christmas item. Once completed, leaflets can be returned to The Vault's Christmas Grotto, where they will hand out small gifts and be entered into a prize draw.

Prizes on offer include several family tickets to the Palace Cinema, a family ticket for the Gorleston Pavilion pantomime and many more.

The Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Paula Waters-Bunn, will be joined on stage by special guests - including panto characters from Gorleston Pavilion's Cinderella - for the official light switch-on at 5pm. Fireworks will follow at 6pm.

Councillor Daniel Candon, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for economic development and growth, said: "The Christmas lights switch-on in Gorleston is always a huge success and we hope it is the same again this year.

"The Christmas event is designed as a free-to-attend event to mark the start of the festive shopping season and encourage hundreds of extra families and shoppers into Gorleston."

Funding from Visit Great Yarmouth/GYTABIA has helped to bring you Gorleston Christmas Switch On.