City of Lincoln Council’s Civic Party, along with special celebrity guests will kick-start Christmas in the city with a light switch-on event later this year.
Taking place on Thursday 17 November at 7pm, the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln Cllr Rosanne Kirk and her consort, Daryll Kirk, the City Sheriff Jasmit Kaur Phull and consort Dr Jaswant Phull, plus guests from New Theatre Royal’s 2022 pantomime and media partner BBC Radio Lincolnshire will officially switch on the lights.
The main evening event will see a range of entertainment on Lincoln High Street from 4.30pm, including festive songs, entertainment, DJ sets, and a special performance from Georgia Hayes-Cowley, who will play Cinderella in New Theatre Royal’s pantomime later this year.
Special celebrity guests, who will join the civic party in turning on the High Street lights include mother and daughter duo Kerry Katona and Lilly McFadden. Kerry, who started her career as a member of girl group Atomic Kitten, won the third series of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and was a runner-up in Celebrity Big Brother 8, and will play the role of Ugly Sister Botox in the Lincoln Cinderella panto.
Her daughter Lilly will join Kerry in the 2022 performance as Baby Botox and will be the first time the pair have performed together on stage.
The full programme includes:
- 4.30pm – 5.50pm: Entertainment TBC
- 5.55pm – 6.10pm: Entertainment TBC
- 6.10pm – 6.15pm: Compere introductions from BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Sean Dunderdale
- 6.15pm – 6.25pm: Entertainment TBC
- 6.35pm – 6.40pm: Procession sets off from Lincoln Guildhall, which will include the Mayor of Lincoln and her civic party, Freemen of the City, Members of City of Lincoln Council, the MP for Lincoln, Kerry Katona and Lilly McFadden.
- 6.40pm – 6.48pm: The Mayor’s Chaplain, Father Eddy will say a prayer.
- 6.48pm – 6.52pm: A Christmas message from the Mayor of Lincoln
- 6.52pm – 7pm: THE BIG SWITCH ON featuring a switch on musical montage
- 7pm – 7.20pm - DJ set
Prior to the high street lights’ switch-on, St Marks Shopping Centre will host an event from 4.30pm – 6.30pm which will include performances from the stars of Lincoln Drill Hall’s Panto and entertainment from Lincs FM.
The St Marks Shopping Centre lights will be officially switched on at 6.30pm.
From 6pm, Lincoln’s Waterside Shopping Centre will host its switch-on event, where New Theatre Royal’s Panto stars, Georgia Hayes-Cowley, Kerry Katona and Lilly McFadden, will be interviewed live on stage.
Prior to the shopping centre’s official switch on at 7.20pm, Cinderella herself, Georgia Hayes-Cowley will sing live on stage.
Cllr Rosanne Kirk, the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln said: “The Lincoln Christmas Light Switch-On event really does kickstart the festivities in the city, and I for one am extremely excited to welcome both visitors and residents to what promises to be an incredible event.”
Natalie Hayes-Cowley, Artistic Director at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln and producer of their pantomime said: "We were thrilled to be asked to take part in this year's Christmas Light Switch-On again, it is such a lovely event that puts us all in a festive mood.
“Our pantomime cast members love getting the crowd excited for the upcoming panto season, and really enjoy the Switch-On event, so we can't wait!"
Dean Cross, Centre Manager at Waterside Shopping Centre added: “The Lincoln Christmas Light Switch on is one of the many great city events, and we are looking forward to welcoming our many visitors to what will be a great Christmas in 2022.”
Valerie Johnson, Centre Manager at St Marks Shopping Centre said: “St Marks Shopping Centre Manager, Valerie Johnson, said: “The Christmas light switch on is always a big event for Lincoln and we are thrilled to kick off the city’s celebrations with our exciting family fun entertainment.
“This year our Christmas light switch-on will be bigger and it’s going to be a great event for the entire family – the perfect way to get into the festive mood.”
Visitors will also benefit from free car parking between 4pm and 9.30pm on 17 November for the event at any City of Lincoln Council car park by either visiting Lincoln Central Car Park, or by using the PaybyPhone app at all other council-owned car parks in the city.