Sidmouth’s annual Christmas Lights Switch On event is this Saturday, 18th November in the Market Place and Sidmouth Town Council is once again providing the festive display along the streets. 

Starting off at around 3.30pm, Gliddon’s Steam Traction Engine will be providing Trailer Rides around the town from the Market Place. 

To help get you in the Christmas mood, Sid Valley Radio is kindly providing music and entertainment from 4.00 pm and will be teaming up with long time supporter Ashley Leeds to lead in some singing. 

At 4.45pm will be a first for Sidmouth, as a ‘Light Parade’ is performed by Sidmouth College Year 7 students with Sidmouth School of Art ahead of their Winter Light Festival in February. 

The Annual ‘Golden Ticket’ draw will take place at 5.15pm, which is a chance for local Primary School children, who will have received a ticket at school, to win a huge £100 toy voucher generously donated by Gliddon’s Toy Shop of Church Street 

Then at 5.30pm, it will be the switch on Christmas Lights. The lighting includes new features and is once again designed and engineered by Torbay Display who are also contracted to supply lights to the frontage of Fields of Sidmouth. Representing one of the older members of the community will be Sidmouthian Olive Flynn in her 97th year who, with the Chair of Sidmouth Town Council, will be performing the grand switch-on of the lights this year. 

The Chair of Sidmouth Town Council, Councillor Chris Lockyear, commented: “It is entirely fitting that all parts of our community are recognised to lead our light switch on. Last year we had the Head Boy and Girl of Sidmouth College and it was thought that having a more senior resident was one way of doing this again for 2023.” 

Sidmouth’s Christmas light display and switch on is provided by Sidmouth Town Council, kindly supported by Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce. Thanks also go to Kings Garden Centre who have again generously provided the Town’s Christmas Tree. Saturday, 18th November is shaping up to be a sparkling tonic to the darker evenings and a great start to the Christmas festivities in Sidmouth.