THERE are big plans for this year's Christmas lights switch on in Worcester city centre with a move to a weekend date.
Traditionally, the lights switch on has been held on a week day and last year had to be a muted affair with no crowds because of the covid pandemic.
This year, however, the event will be back in full swing taking place in Cathedral Square on Saturday, November 27.
The all-important job of pressing the button to turn on the city's Christmas lights will be down to Oscar Saxelby-Lee aided by Father Christmas and mayor of Worcester, cllr Stephen Hodgson.
Brave Oscar, seven, captured the city's heart after £500,000 was raised for a gruelling bone marrow transplant in Singapore after he was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2018.
He also turned on the lights in 2020 which took place online with people encouraged to join in by sending in footage of themselves switching on their own Christmas lights at home.
Tonight we invited Oscar to come and privately switch on @CrownGateWorc lights ahead of retail reopening tomorrow.
— Visit Worcester (@VisitWorcester) December 1, 2020
As a special thank you the Visit Worcester team contacted Father Christmas who made a special visit just for Oscar this evening via a trip to Toytown Worcester. pic.twitter.com/dsh0a6lt6W
This year, the crowds will enjoy entertainment including live music from 2pm.
They will also get the chance to meet the Swan Theatre pantomime characters, Doorstep Princesses before the big lights switch on takes place at 6pm.
The event is a partnership between Worcester City Council, Worcester BID and Crowngate Shopping Centre.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here