Christmas in The Big City

Douglas will host its first Christmas lights switch on as a city this week as the dreaded late night shopping makes its return.

Hosted by Douglas Town Centre Management, the event promises ‘seasonal cheer’ for all.

In the run up to the lights being switched on at 7pm, Mayor Janet Thommeny will wish everyone a Merry Christmas from the Council’s secret underground bunker. This will be broadcast on big screens and speakers across the capital and indeed maybe even the world, though this seems unlikely.

Events will be held through the capital from Duke Street right through to the Cultural Area near the Gaiety Theatre (outside The Sefton, but everyone is a bit embarrassed about that).

The evening of entertainment will include live music, children’s rides, an ice sculpture, outdoor cinema, a craft fair, a Christmas craft workshop in the Henry Bloom Noble Library and a visit from the Big Man himself.

Father Christmas will be in his Grotto from 5.30pm-8.30pm in The Strand Shopping Centre, while outside the Strand is the setting for this year’s ice sculpture, to be carved by celebrated artists Stephanie Quayle and Darren Jackson where you’ll be able to have your photo taken between 6pm and 8pm before ‘meltdown’.

Regeneration and Community Committee chair, Andrew Bentley, said: ‘Christmas in Douglas truly will have something for everyone this year and it will be wonderful to see so much going on in various spaces across the centre of Douglas. Thursday will be a magical evening of family entertainment and attractions. Late-night shopping begins, of course, and there will be some well-known characters visiting some of the shops.‘  Snow’ will definitely fall and Santa will be in his grotto.’

There will also be free parking in Douglas Borough Council’s Shaw’s Brow and Bottleneck car parks every Thursday evening until Christmas after 5pm and each weekend.

The DoI has also confirmed that prom parking will also begin on Thursday and run until the New Year.