Last night Bath was given a break from all the economic and winter gloom with the official ‘switch on’ of the city’s illuminated buildings programme.
It’s a bit like taking an electric paintbrush to some of our most iconic architectural features and bringing colour to the mid-November darkness.
This ‘Instagram and TikTok friendly’ idea is jointly paid for by B&NES and Bath BID. The overhead street lights appear to be a little delayed as they are coming from mainland Europe.
Could be a post-Brexit customs issue? Let’s hope they are soon spreading their LED eco-friendly joy above our heads.
A big call out to Bath Carnival performers for adding some welcome voo voo voom to last night’s proceedings, and also thank you to those talented musicians and singers from the University of Bath.
Here’s a flavour of what the people in the city centre enjoyed last night.
Just received the following release from B&NES regarding the rest of the lights.
Work is underway to install Christmas lights and illuminations across Bath and North East Somerset with the first switch-on taking place next week.
Bath & North East Somerset Council recently announced new four-year framework contracts for the provision of Christmas lighting across the area. This includes illuminations on streets and historic buildings in Bath.
Traditional Christmas lights will be added to the illuminations during Bath’s Christmas Market, which opens to residents from the evening of November 23.
The council is also providing traditional lights to the Bath communities of Combe Down, Weston, Moorland Road and Larkhall as well as working in partnership with the three town councils on the provision of lights.
Keynsham’s Winter Festival on November 25 includes an official switching on of the town’s Christmas lights. Radstock’s lights will be switched on from the Miners’ Wheel on November 26.
Midsomer Norton’s lights, with the focal point of a new Christmas tree in the Hollies Garden will be lit from November 24.
Field & Lawn, one of the UK’s largest and leading independent providers of festive lighting, will be providing the traditional Christmas lights across Bath and North East Somerset and Fineline Lighting Ltd is supplying the projections and illuminations in Bath.
The new contracts allow the flexibility for partners such as town and parish councils, businesses and sponsors to contribute to enhance Christmas lights in future years.
People will notice it is taking a little longer this year for some lights to be installed, due to longer manufacturing processes for some bespoke illuminations and the ongoing impact of driver shortages.
Councillor Kevin Guy, Council Leader, said: “The switch-on of Christmas lights and illuminations in city and town centres is an exciting moment when it really feels as if the festive season is underway, creating a special atmosphere in our local communities in the run-up to Christmas. Thanks to our partners across the area who are working with us to provide fantastic lighting.”
Find out what’s on at Bath Christmas Market this year.
Please visit Bath Christmas Market’s social media accounts for updates about the Christmas Market:
You can find out about all the Christmas events taking place in Bath on the Welcome to Bath website and at Visit West’s Christmas events page.
