The full line-up for Darwen’s Christmas lights switch-on event has just been revealed and it’s a Christmas cracker with more than 10 hours of festive fun!
News that K-Klass are set to headline has already gone down a storm with residents and visitors, who flock in their thousands every year to the super popular event.
And now, organisers Crafty Vintage have revealed the full programme for this year’s event on Saturday, November 16, including:
- The return of the bustling festive markets throughout the day with gift ideas and delicious food and drink
- The Ella Shaw Academy of Arts performing hits from the musical Six with the Britain’s Got Talent Star herself taking to the stage to perform too
- Storytelling with Father Christmas in Darwen Market (which is always fully booked!) with a special guest appearance from the big man himself telling jokes on stage plus new family Christmas pottery painting sessions at By Erin in Bridge Street
- Cinderella and Buttons from the King George’s Hall panto performing live
- El Grego (Demented Disco) taking the Christmas party into the early evening with old skool tunes
Running right from 10am in the Market Square, Darwen Brass Band are joining the line-up for 2024 as well as the impressive Preston Handbell Ensemble.
There’ll be Ice Glitz Christmas characters around the town centre too as well as fairground rides for the little ones.
On stage, in the run-up to the big countdown, there’ll be a fantastic showcase of local talent with performances from the likes of Darwen School of Music, Lancashire Dance Academy, Zoe Taylor Dance Academy, Paul Stuart Davies and the Darwen Amateur Theatrical Society.
And, once again, keeping everything running smoothly and wowing the crowds with festive favourites will be compere, Kiki DeVille – always popular with the crowds.
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Deputy Leader for Blackburn with Darwen Council and Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:
Every year, the Darwen Christmas lights switch on event gets bigger and better and what a line-up we have for 2024.
There’s more than 10 hours of festive fun planned across the town centre.
Building on the huge success of N-Trance last year, we’ve already had a brilliant response to 2024 headliners K Klass and the Christmas party will continue after the lights are switched on with the markets open until 8pm and El Grego (Demented Disco) playing old skool tunes into the early evening.
We’re encouraging residents to come early and make a day of it – supporting local businesses in the town centre while enjoying all there is to offer with family and friends.
With so much to do, you can find more information to help plan your day and handy guides on the Darwen Town Centre Facebook page and website too – be sure to check them out.
K-Klass are behind some of the biggest house tracks ever made – having worked alongside the likes of Whitney Houston, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Luther Vandross, Candi Staton and many more.
On the night, they’ll be performing their 90s hits ‘Rhythm is a Mystery’ and ‘Let Me Show You’ as well as a classic house DJ set.
Owner of Crafty Vintage, Laura Johnson added:
We know just how much people enjoy Darwen’s Christmas lights switch on event, with record crowds turning out last year to enjoy the free festive fun.
We work really hard throughout the year on the programme, which is always a really good mix of local talent with a strong headliner and this year we’re excited to have K-Klass joining us to switch on the lights.
With more than 10 hours of festive fun, we’ve tried to make sure there’s something for everyone – keeping the old favourites with lots of new things added too.
The official countdown to Christmas starts at the Darwen event – we are so looking forward to people enjoying everything we have planned.
The event is jointly funded by both Blackburn with Darwen Council and Darwen Town Council.
The full programme can be viewed at: www.darwentowncentre.co.uk
There’ll also be lots of useful updates on the Darwen Town Centre Facebook page plus the Shop Darwen Instagram.
Leader of Darwen Town Council, Councillor Jonathan Hamer, said:
Darwen Town Council is once again proud to be supporting the Christmas lights switch on and what a line-up we are pleased to be announcing today.
This event is always incredibly popular with Darreners and visitors too with so much going on right through the day and into the early evening.
It’s fantastic to have K-Klass turning on the lights this year and we very much look forward to the crowds enjoying everything there is to offer right across the town centre.
Full line-up:
From 10am – Darwen Market Square:
- Festive Markets
- Preston Handbell Ensemble
- Ice Glitz Christmas characters
- Darwen Brass Band
- Darwen Amateur Theatrical Society
- Fairground rides
From 10am – Darwen Market
- Storytelling with Father Christmas
- Browse the stalls until 4pm
From 10am – Bridge Street
- Christmas Pottery Painting at By Erin Gift Shop
From 2pm – live on stage
- K Klass live PA & DJ set
- Ella Shaw Academy of Arts performing hits from Six
- Jokes with Father Christmas
- Cinderella & Buttons from King George’s Hall panto
- Kiki Deville
- Zoe Taylor Dance Academy
- Darwen School of Music
- Lancashire Dance Academy
- Paul Stuart Davies with Northern Soul hits
- Christmas lights switch-on
- El Grego (Demented Disco) playing old skool hits into the early evening
For all of the latest updates on the event, be sure to follow Darwen Town Centre on Facebook and Shop Darwen on Insta.
