Bury St Edmunds Christmas lights switch on set to feature new decorations and a host of attractions

Bury St Edmunds town centre is set to be illuminated later this month in a switch on event which will feature brand new decorations and a host of attractions for all ages.

The Our Bury St Edmunds Christmas Lights Event, organised by the Business Improvement District, will be held on Thursday, November 16 from 3pm to 8pm and is free-admission.

There will be a variety of stalls, such as crafts, festive food and drink from businesses including Cookie Barista, Peck, Papaki’s Deli, Mr Simms Sweet Shop and Thomas Ridley, as well as charity stalls.

Mark Cordell, chief executive of the BID, which has organised the Christmas lights display for nearly 15 years, said: “Once again this year we have included some new lights to celebrate the fact that Market Thoroughfare has now re-opened allowing access between Auction Street and Cornhill.

“It promises to be a fun-packed event and a great chance to spend some time in town, meet up with friends and family to do some shopping, have something to eat or drink or just enjoy the attractions and fairground rides.

“This is guaranteed to bring some festive cheer to a November night.”

The stage, which will be outside Moyse’s Hall, will have entertainment through the afternoon and evening which will include magic shows, Theatre Royal pantomime characters and The Snow Queen and her friends.

Santa will also be in town meeting youngsters and later in the day he’ll be on the stage with some festive magic.

Local artist Kitty Grant will be one of the musical highlights, along with school groups who are also performing. Away from the stage there will be a host of street entertainment around the town centre including the opportunity to meet gingerbread characters.

All the lights in the displays use the most energy-efficient LED bulbs and, as last year, to conserve energy, they will be on for slightly fewer hours each day than in previous years.

Stage schedule is as follows:

3pm – Brooke School

3.25pm – Magic Show

3.40pm – The Snow Queen and her Friends

3.55pm – Sybil Andrews Academy

4.15pm – Abbots Green Academy

4.40pm – Ickworth Park Primary School

5pm – CTC Foundation College

5.25pm – Guidhall Feoffment Community Primary School

5.50pm – Stoke College

6.15pm – Theatre Royal Pantomime Characters

6.40pm - Santa and Magic Show

7pm – Kitty Grant

7.20pm – Live music