Sparkling line up for Christmas in Portsmouth

The countdown to Christmas in Portsmouth’s main shopping areas will be officially marked this month with a range of sparkling events from Christmas Lights Switch On Parties, the We Shine Art and Light Festival and Christmas markets.

The countdown begins on Thursday 17 November with the Commercial Road Christmas Lights Switch On Party and the opening of the We Shine Art and Light Festival where the streets and buildings of Portsmouth will be transformed into a night-time gallery. The Portsmouth Christmas Market and the festive edition of the We Create Market will also open for late night shopping. In Southsea, the Christmas Lights Switch On Party is taking place on 24 November and in Cosham on 1 December.

The Christmas Lights Switch On Parties are sponsored this year by local business Nexus Independent Financial Advisers and hosted by Wave 105’s Mark Collins. The line-up features stars of panto such as Channel 4’s First Dates Grant Urquhart, who is starring in Cinderella at the Kings Theatre, along with a cast of local performers and the big switch on finale.

For Christmas shopping, the Portsmouth Christmas Market in Commercial Road will be selling festive treats such as German sausages, glühwein, Christmas stockings and tree decorations. The We Create Market will be in the old Sainsbury’s and be brimming with local makers, designers, and artists. There will be more markets in Southsea with the Love Southsea Market every weekend in December.