Final preparations underway for Shrewsbury Christmas Cracker event
Final preparations are underway for Shrewsbury’s Christmas Cracker event which marks the launch of the town’s Christmas lights and the start of late night shopping.
Shrewsbury Town Council is working with partner agencies including Shop in the Loop, Shrewsbury Shopping Centres, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Market Hall, to kick-start the town’s festive season with a bang this Wednesday.
A whole host of festive entertainment is planned with performances from; Bicton Heath Primary School; Shrewsbury Handbells; Halfway House Ladies Choir; Shropshire Music Service; Bridgnorth Ukulele Band; St Chad’s Choir; Heart and Soul Community Choir; Of One Accord and Shrewsbury Concert Band.
The popular lantern parade also makes a return, starting off from the Riverside Shopping Centre 6.30pm before heading out to Pride Hill, up Butcher Row, along Fish Street, to High Street and finally culminating in the Square at 7pm for the launch of the Christmas lights.
Throughout the evening there will also be street entertainment on Pride Hill and Santa will be in the Square with his sleigh.
The event kicks off at 5pm.
In Shrewsbury’s Market Hall, join the traders for the first Christmas Shopping night. All the traders will be open throughout the evening; products will be available to purchase and orders for Christmas will be taken.
Actor John Challis who played Boycie in Only Fools and Horses and Green, Green Grass, will also be signing his new book at Pengwern Books (from around 6.30pm).
Shoppers can also pick up their exclusive loyalty card, which will be inside the official event programme, on the night for a chance to win a cracking Christmas. Simply collect six different date stamps whenever a purchase is made from participating retailers around Shrewsbury to enter the competition to win a huge sack full of goodies worth more than £1,000!
There’s free Park & Ride and parking at St Julian’s Friars, Frankwell main long stay and Abbey Foregate long stay car parks after 4pm.
John Hall, from Shop in the Loop said: “Everyone has worked hard on pulling together a packed programme of entertainment for this year’s Christmas Cracker. Special thanks must go to the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres who have provided performance spaces, and a unit for the lantern workshop, and indeed to all our partners for working together to bring about this wonderful event.
“Don’t forget, as well as entertainment throughout the evening shops will also be open late and there is free parking in the town centre from 4pm.”
