Christmas in Cirencester

 Cirencester Town Council is excited to release details of this year’s Christmas in Cirencester Markets schedule, including the year’s biggest events, the Advent Markets and Light Switch-on.

This year’s Advent Market and Light Switch-On event, sponsored by Sewell, Mullings & Logie Solicitors, will be held on Saturday 30th November followed by a supersized Advent Market on Sunday 1st December.  As in previous years, the large market will be staged in the town’s streets with over 200 stalls across the two days.  The town centre will be closed to traffic from 5:30pm on Friday 29th November to midnight Sunday 1st December, and stalls will extend from Castle Street to the top of Cricklade Street and throughout the length of the Market Place.  The market will run from 10am-6pm on Saturday 30th and 10am-4pm on Sunday 1st.

Additional changes have been made, taking into account the public’s feedback received after the 2023 Light Switch-On.  The Food Plaza will be back on the main Market Place, featuring artisan food and drink stalls with tables and benches, and there will be additional seating, stalls and activities in West Market Place this year.

In a change to previous years, the Light Switch-On ceremony will be broadcast on 3 big screens situated on the Market Place & West Market Place, rather than a stage, to allow more space for crowd safety.  Catch the show between 3:55pm and 4:35pm, followed by a short, low-noise firework display to celebrate the start of Advent, courtesy of Cotswold Fireworks.  

As well as the additional big screen, West Market Place will feature family entertainment, Santa, and his sleigh and helpers from Cirencester Round Table, hot chestnut and toasted marshmallow sellers, performances and a chance to ‘sparkle for the camera’ at the insta-worthy selfie station, sponsored by Wenn Townsend, Chartered Accountants. Performances featuring local talent will take place inside the Parish Church on the 30th November, simultaneously shown on the 3 big screens; the church will be closed whilst the Switch-On ceremony takes place. 

The festive programme continues with a special weekend Christmas Market on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December with live music and street entertainment; more Christmas Gift Markets and festive Farmers’ Markets are also scheduled throughout December. The Charter Markets will be held as normal but will be closed on the 27th and 30th December, and 1st January.

The willow snowmen will also be returning to the town with a new trail and challenge…will you find them all and decipher the Christmas themed word? The trail launches on the 30th November.  Entry forms will be available from the Local Information Centre, Bingham House and at all the businesses hosting a snowman, entries will also be accepted online.  The closing date is Sunday 5th January and completed entries will be entered into a prize draw.  More information about the trail can be found at www.cirencester.gov.uk and social media channels.

These events do not happen without the generous support and sponsorship of local businesses and The Town Council would like to thank Sewell, Mullings & Logie, Watermoor Point, Wenn Townsend, Trove Gems, and our Snowmen hosts for their generous sponsorship and support.  A team of volunteers selflessly give their time to help make the Advent Festival go smoothly by marshalling crowds, setting up, directing and supporting the market traders, and answering queries from members of the public. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact markets@cirencester.gov.uk.

Road closures
Managed by the AA, these will be in place in the town centre from 5:30pm Friday 29th November to Midnight Sunday 1st December. The event will take place across the Town Centre including the whole of the Market Place, Castle Street and Cricklade Street.  The following roads will be subject to closures with signed diversions in place. There will be access for residents affected but deliveries and contractors must be arranged outside the closure times.

 ·         Dollar Street - access only

·         Gosditch Street - closed from Loveday Mews

·         Cricklade Street - closed at Castle Street Junction

·         Castle Street - closed at Silver Street Junction

·         Dyer Street - closed at North Way Junction

·         Black Jack Street - closed at Park Street Junction

An interactive map of the road closures can be found here: https://bit.ly/TownCentreRoadClosures .