Get Ready to Light Up Castle for Christmas This Sunday in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Newcastle-under-Lyme will sparkle once again on Sunday 23rd November as Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, alongside 6 Towns Radio and supported by Valcato Entertainment will Light Up Castle for their Christmas Light Switch On. The town centre will come alive with a full day of free festive entertainment from 12pm right through to the big countdown at 6pm.

6 Towns Radio presenters Dan Townley and Rich Hughes will host the main stage outside The Guildhall, introducing a full programme of community performances, live music and headline tribute acts. This year’s line up includes Love Taylor, Taylor Swift Tribute and Spice Forever a Spice Girls Tribute Show, before the Your Heroes Awards nominees join the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme to switch on the town’s Christmas lights, followed by a firework display and party band Vibealicious.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors can enjoy performances from Shine Academy, Infusion Dance Troupe, Daniel Jones Dance School, Loud Mouth Women Choir and more.

Over on the Ironmarket, Castle Artisan Market will bring makers, bakers, creators and festive street food alongside 6 Towns Radio gazebo who will host live acoustic sets and community performances including Regan Webb, Staffordshire Choir and Keele Brass Band Society.

Families can get involved with free Christmas craft sessions, including bauble making workshops between 1pm and 4pm and free lantern-making with B Arts between 12pm and 4pm to create a lantern ready for the Newcastle Lantern Parade taking place on Saturday 6th December. Small fun fair rides, walkabout entertainment and puppet performances will add extra festive fun across the town.

Visitors can also enter this year’s charity raffle at the 6 Towns Radio gazebo to win a Castle Christmas with prizes from much loved local independents including Piccoloco, Hopwater Cellar, Tea & Pantry, Divinity Studios, Newcastle Pet Supplies, The Boulevard and tickets to New Vic Theatre’s production of The Little Mermaid. Raffle proceeds will go to Newcastle-Staffs Food Bank.

Charlotte Pearce, BID Manager, says:

“Light Up Castle is one of the biggest events in our town calendar and such a fun way to kick start the festive season. It’s a big, brilliant day and evening where the whole town comes together to celebrate. We’re honoured to have the Your Heroes nominees join us again this year to switch on the lights.

The Light Up Castle event and our seasonal lighting displays are funded and arranged by the BID on behalf of our levy payers, with over 650 metres of lighting installed across the town. That’s more than 65,000 lights bringing festive sparkle to Newcastle-under-Lyme.”

Dan Townley from 6 Towns Radio adds:

“It’s always great to be part of Light Up Castle. I’ve had the privilege of hosting the main stage for the past four years and every year it just gets bigger and better. The atmosphere is incredible, and you can really feel the community coming together to support the town and celebrate the start of the festive season. Seeing families, friends and local businesses all out enjoying themselves makes it such a special day and it’s a real highlight in Newcastle’s calendar for me.”

Free parking will be available in select Borough Council car parks.

Festive celebrations continue into December with the Newcastle Lantern Parade on Saturday 6th December from Keele in Town and the Castle Food & Drink Fest on Saturday 13th December ran in collaboration with Independent Street.

Full schedules and updates will be shared on @newcastlebid social media channels.