Annual festive switch-on of the Christmas lights at Keel Square with music, magic and a winter display of lights.
Keel Square hosts the city centre Christmas lights switch-on on Thursday 19 November, the annual festive opener that marks the start of the holiday season in Sunderland. It's a night of sparkle, music and magic, and this year Hits Radio's Steve & Karen are the main feature, taking the lead as the lights go on.
Around them, the square will be filled with live entertainment, music and family activities, so there's more to it than just the moment the switch is flipped. A winter display of icy lights is set to arrive at the square, and the whole thing is built around the family crowd, with the entertainment running alongside the main event. It's the kind of night that works just as well if you're there with kids as it does if you're just popping down with friends to see the city light up for the winter.
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Practicalities are straightforward: there's no entry fee, and you don't need to book a place to attend, so you can just turn up on the night. With the lights going on in the heart of the city centre, it's an easy one to get to, and since it's free, it's a simple way to kick off the season without any fuss.
