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Press Release

21 November 2024

The (Christmas) show must go on!!

Despite the best efforts of the great British weather for the second year running, Fareham Borough Council is determined that its annual Christmas Lights Switch On event will still go ahead this Saturday 23 November.

Every care must be taken with a yellow weather warning in place for rain and gusts of wind over 50 mph. This is likely to make it impossible for the food concessions and some of the bigger funfair rides to attend. The smaller ones will still be on West Street and the Council is moving the majority of activities indoors.

The festive market, brought to you by Funyard Events, will be found in the old Clarks store inside the Fareham Shopping Centre as planned. The community performances, walkabout artists and cast members from the Fareham Live pantomime ‘Cinderella’ will be entertaining visitors in the shopping centre and there will also be a ‘Search for the Star’ challenge where children can seek out 10 Christmas stars and receive a prize.

The Council will also be utilising the old Woolworths/Job Centre building on West Street to accommodate even more children’s activities. These will include a range of festive arts and crafts, Christingle making, bubble workshop and circus skills, as well as festive music.

Executive Member for Leisure and Community, Councillor Connie Hockley, said: “My message here is that Christmas is not cancelled in Fareham! It may not be going ahead exactly as originally planned but, now the Council owns the shopping centre, we are able to move the majority of activities indoors. The countdown to the lights switch on will still happen at 5.30pm at the Performance Podium on West Street, and I hope some of you, appropriately dressed for the occasion, will brave the weather to join us!”

The Council will continue to monitor the weather closely and will keep the public informed of any additional changes. Stay up to date at www.fareham.gov.uk/christmaslights or via the Council’s social media pages.

ENDS