Star line-up announced for The Rock’s big switch on
Children’s TV favourite Mr Bloom and pop sensation 5 After Midnight will switch on the Christmas lights at The Rock this year.
The centre’s Christmas Lights Switch on, hosted by Tower FM, will take place on Thursday 9th November from 5:30pm until 7:30pm and will also feature a number of local acts, including groups from the Carol Godby Theatre Workshop and of course an appearance from Santa himself.
Throughout the evening a competition called ‘Be Santa, See Santa’ will take place – visitors can have their photo taken in a Santa hat and beard by the Tower FM street team at their ‘Santa Stations’ for a chance to win an amazing family trip to Lapland.
There’ll be spot prizes for Santas posing throughout the night and the holiday winner will be announced just before the switch for the lights is flicked.
The switch on is free to attend and in the week leading up to the event a competition to find Mr Bloom’s vegetables around the centre will be held, with the winners given the chance to say hello to the star before he takes to the stage on the night.
The event marks the beginning of the Christmas season for The Rock. The centre’s Santa’s Grotto will officially open on Saturday 25th November following the Santa’s Arrival parade in the morning and The Rock Express will return in December to transport festive shoppers around the town until the end of the month.
The Rock’s centre director, Arnold Wilcox-Wood, said: “Our Christmas Lights Switch on is the biggest event in our calendar and people travel from miles around to join us – and this year will be no exception!
“The flick of the switch at the end of the night truly signals the beginning of the festive season for the centre, our retailers and our shoppers. We’re really excited about this year’s line-up and to be working in conjunction with Tower FM and as always we look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to join with us for the event.”