Grab your Christmas hat and a warm coat and head to the Barbican, to join in the Christmas family-fun and entertainment and watch the switch-on of the dazzling Christmas lights, sponsored by PL1 Events.

On Saturday 19 November, the Barbican Christmas lights will be switched on, with the fun starting at 12pm and finishing at 6pm. With festive entertainment throughout the afternoon, there will be lots of free activities for children to take part in too.

If you are planning on heading down to the Barbican, then here is everything you need to know:

   

Free children’s activities

You will find a great choice of activities to enjoy across the Barbican throughout the day, including:

• Visit Santa in his wonderful grotto, on Southside Street (opposite the Tourist Information Centre) (12pm to 4.30pm)
• Get busy with Christmas tree decorations workshop and glitter crafts at the Barbican Theatre (12pm to 6pm)
• Look out for the brilliantly creative sea themed Christmas tree, made by Bogey Knights! (12pm to 6pm)
• You can find a selection of traders selling delicious Christmas treats and gifts, including Rise & Grind, Barbican Botanics, Jacka Bakery, Ten Ten Boutique and Barefoot Angel. (12pm to 6pm)
• Try out your water skills with Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre's paddleboard simulator, on Southside Street (opposite the Crown and Anchor). (12pm to 6pm)
• Charge up the Christmas stars and television screen with Beryl E Bikes, in Citadel Ope, outside Valenti’s Gelato (12pm to 6pm)
• Learn more about Blood Bikes and the work they do at West Pier. (12pm to 6pm)
• Get your face painted, by Cher’s Face Painting, outside the old Edinburgh Woollen Mill (12.15pm to 5.15pm)
• Jump on the reindeer rodeo ride, on The Parade (12.30pm to 5.30pm)
• Visit the giant Christmas snow globe, on The Parade (12.30pm to 5.30pm)
• Enjoy a cosy Christmas storytelling with a delicious hot chocolate, at The Maritime Inn (1pm to 4pm, running every hour)

Don't miss Santa where he'll be taking a trip across the water in the RNLI Plymouth Lifeboat, arriving back on the Barbican at 4.50pm. If you see him on the boat, be sure to give him a wave!

  

Live entertainment

Enjoy a variety of lively festive performances throughout the afternoon from two performance areas, on The Parade and Southside Street (by The Navy and festive bus).

The Parade performance programme

• 12.05pm to 12.20pm  North Prospect Community Choir
• 12.20pm to 12.35pm  Blokes Who Sing
• 12.40pm to 1.10pm    Devonport Park Community Choir
• 1.15pm to 1.45pm     PGS Theatre
• 1.50pm to 2.20pm     SA Singing and Acting
• 2.25pm to 2.55pm     Grace Notes Acapella
• 3pm to 3.30pm          SJ Performing Arts
• 3.35pm to 4.05pm     Savannah Shepherd
• 4.10pm to 4.40pm     LS Drama Workshops  

Southside Street (next to the bus)

• 12.05pm to 12.35pm  The Groovement Project
• 12.40pm to 1.10pm    Plymouth Panthers Cheer Squad
• 1.15pm to 1.25pm     Dance Fusion
• 1.50pm to 2.20pm     Stevie Jay
• 2.25pm to 2.35pm     Natasha’s Bollywood Dance
• 3pm to 3.30pm          Razzmataz
• 3.35pm to 4.05pm     Italia Conti
• 4.10pm to 4.40pm     Simara Winter
• 4.45pm to 5.15pm     Plymouth Performing Arts Academy

A further two performances from Stevie Jay will take place on Southside Street outside the St Luke’s shop, between 12pm and 1pm and after 3pm.

   

Street entertainment

Look out for the brilliant stilt walkers, super cute baby reindeer puppet, Festive Foxley and the Winter Fairy, as these amazingly talented street performers roam around Southside Street entertaining the crowds. But keep an eye out, The Grinch and Martha Mae will be causing mischief across the cobbled streets of the Barbican!

   

The Christmas lights switch-on!

The switch-on countdown will start from the festive bus, on Southside Street by The Navy at 5.30pm. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Sue Dann will be turning on the Christmas lights along with Santa and our local community heroes, as nominated by the people of Plymouth. Look out for the Grinch, who could be making an appearance too! Tavy Tors will close the event with their Christmas shanty performance.

From 6pm, Santa will take a tour on the festive bus around the waterfront area, give him a wave if you see him!

   

Other important information

• There will be road closures in place on Saturday 19 November, on The Parade and Basket Ope from 10am to 7pm and Southside Street from 11am to 7pm.
• There will be a lost children area at the Tourist Information Centre, 3-5 The Barbican.
• Access information can be found on the website

  

The mischievous ocean elves free trail

The mischievous Christmas ocean elves are making their way into 12 of the shops and cafes across Plymouth’s waterfront. What could they be doing? Try to spot the elves in amongst the fabulous festive window displays or hiding inside causing chaos! Track them down by using our helpful list of locations and have a Christmas adventure in Plymouth.

Available from 19 November 2022 to 3 January 2023, find out more at visitplymouth.co.uk/oceanelvestrail.

We hope this fun free trail will help families to get out and about over Christmas and explore our wonderful waterfront!

   

Plymouth Waterfront Partnership would like to thank its title sponsor PL1 Events, and partners Plymouth Citybus, The Maritime Inn, Bogey Knights and the Plymouth RNLI for their support. If you would like to give a donation to the Plymouth RNLI, there will be collection pots at this event. 

Please note all of the above was correct at time of going live, but is subject to change

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Plymouth is easily accessible by train with a wide range of services running from a variety of locations within England. Although some services may require a change or two.

Travelling from London takes around 3 hours with Great Western Railway, if you're coming from the north, the trip from Manchester can take 5 hours 15 minutes. 

Alternatively, the recently renovated Night Riviera Sleeper service runs Monday – Friday and Sunday evenings. Visit gwr.com/sleeper for more details on times and how to book.

We recommend using GWR.com to search for the fastest and best route for your journey, and book in advance for the best price.