City of Lincoln Council

There is just one week to go until City of Lincoln Council’s Civic Party, along with special celebrity guests, kick-start Christmas in the city with a light switch-on event.

Taking place on Thursday 17 November at 7pm, the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln Cllr Rosanne Kirk and her consort, Daryll Kirk, the City Sheriff Jasmit Kaur Phull and consort Dr Jaswant Phull, plus guests from New Theatre Royal’s 2022 pantomime and media partner BBC Radio Lincolnshire will officially switch on the lights.

The main evening event will see a range of entertainment on Lincoln High Street from 4.30pm, including festive songs, entertainment, DJ sets, and a special performance from Georgia Hayes-Cowley, who will play Cinderella in New Theatre Royal’s pantomime later this year.

Special celebrity guests, who will join the civic party in turning on the High Street lights include mother and daughter duo Kerry Katona and Lilly McFadden. Kerry, who started her career as a member of girl group Atomic Kitten, won the third series of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and was a runner-up in Celebrity Big Brother 8, and will play the role of Ugly Sister Botox in the Lincoln Cinderella panto.

Her daughter Lilly will join Kerry in the 2022 performance as Baby Botox and will be the first time the pair have performed together on stage.

The confirmed programme of events includes:

• 4pm – 5.45pm: DJ on stage
• 5.45pm: Compere introductions from BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Sean Dunderdale
• 5.50pm – 6pm: Entertainment from Curious Theatre School
• 6pm – 6.10pm: Lincoln City Women
• 6.10pm – 6.25pm: Performance from singer songwriter Chloey Rose
• 6.25pm: Welcome from special guest Pudsey Bear
• 6.30pm: Procession sets off from Lincoln Guildhall, which will include the Mayor of Lincoln and her civic party, Freemen of the City, Members of City of Lincoln Council, the MP for Lincoln, Kerry Katona and Lilly McFadden
• 6.35pm – 6.50pm: Performances from the cast of New Theatre Royals pantomime Cinderella, including Cinderella star Georgia Hayes-Cowley
• 6.50pm – 6.55pm: The Mayor’s Chaplain, Father Eddy will say a prayer, and there will be a Christmas message from the Mayor of Lincoln
• 6.55pm: Kerry Katona and Lilly McFadden will take to the stage ahead of the big switch-on
• 7pm: Lincoln’s lights officially switched on
  Prior to the high street lights’ switch-on, St Marks Shopping Centre will host an event from
• 4.30pm – 6.30pm which will include performances from the stars of Lincoln Drill Hall’s Panto and entertainment from Lincs FM

The St Marks Shopping Centre lights will be officially switched on at 6.30pm.

From 6pm, Lincoln’s Waterside Shopping Centre will host its switch-on event, where New Theatre Royal’s Panto stars, Georgia Hayes-Cowley, Kerry Katona and Lilly McFadden, will be interviewed live on stage.

Prior to the shopping centre’s official switch on at 7.20pm, Cinderella herself, Georgia Hayes-Cowley will sing live on stage.

Kate Fenn, Civic Manager and Event Organiser for the Lincoln Christmas Light Switch-on said: “I am really looking forward to working with BBC Radio Lincolnshire again on this much-loved annual event.

“We have a great line up of entertainment for this year’s switch-on and are hoping this will be the best one yet!”

Cllr Rosanne Kirk, the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln added: “The Lincoln Christmas Light Switch-On event really does kickstart the festivities in the city, and I for one am extremely excited to welcome both visitors and residents to what promises to be an incredible event.”

Natalie Hayes-Cowley, Artistic Director at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln and producer of their pantomime said: “We were thrilled to be asked to take part in this year’s Christmas Light Switch-On again, it is such a lovely event that puts us all in a festive mood.

“Our pantomime cast members love getting the crowd excited for the upcoming panto season, and really enjoy the Switch-On event, so we can’t wait!”

Dean Cross, Centre Manager at Waterside Shopping Centre added: “The Lincoln Christmas Light Switch on is one of the many great city events, and we are looking forward to welcoming our many visitors to what will be a great Christmas in 2022.”

Valerie Johnson, Centre Manager at St Marks Shopping Centre said: “St Marks Shopping Centre Manager, Valerie Johnson, said: “The Christmas light switch on is always a big event for Lincoln and we are thrilled to kick off the city’s celebrations with our exciting family fun entertainment.

“This year our Christmas light switch-on will be bigger and it’s going to be a great event for the entire family – the perfect way to get into the festive mood.”

Visitors will also benefit from free car parking between 4pm and 9.30pm on 17 November for the event at any City of Lincoln Council car park by either visiting Lincoln Central Car Park, or by using the PaybyPhone app at all other council-owned car parks in the city.

City of Lincoln Council in partnership with Historic England is celebrating the completion of historic shopfront restorations in the city, which has seen a row of Lincolnshire Co-op buildings transformed.

As part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme, which saw the city council receive a successful bid for funding of £1.68 million in April 2020, the city council has created a programme of historic building restorations designed to revitalise the area and uncover its rich history.

Included in this is plans to revitalise Lincoln’s historic shopfronts to bring them back to their former glory.

A bid of £1.68m for funding was successful. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for City of Lincoln Council

The latest shopfronts to be restored, following the completion of shopfronts at 8-10 St Mary’s Street, are owned by Lincolnshire Co-op.

The restored Sincil Street properties, which are a row of a rare survival in Lincoln of ‘back to back’ houses, were unveiled during a celebration event on 19 October at 38-44 Sincil Street.

A facelift for historic buildings. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for City of Lincoln Council

Ursula Lidbetter, CEO of Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We committed at the start of The Cornhill Quarter development to retain or reinstate as many historic features as possible, to give the buildings a new lease of life and retain the historic character of the area.

“Having invested just under £1 million in 38-44 Sincil Street, we are delighted with the results.

“Thank you to Historic England for contributing additional funds for the shopfronts and to the city council conservation team for their expert advice.

“We are looking forward to welcoming new tenants who want to trade from these units and make the most of their authentic charm.”

| Photo: Stuart Wilde for City of Lincoln Council

Property improvements on Sincil Street included repairs, reinstating lost features, and making buildings suitable for new use.

Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Historic Environment Advocate at City of Lincoln Council said: “There are many unique heritage aspects and locations within Lincoln that need to be preserved so that Lincoln’s special character is maintained, and that includes its shopfronts.

“We are happy to see this prominent row of shopfronts on Sincil Street restored to their former glory.

“By restoring, revitalising and refurbishing these historic shopfronts, it not only helps us to protect heritage in our city, but also aids us in continuing to make Lincoln a great place for both residents and visitors to enjoy.”

| Photo: Stuart Wilde for City of Lincoln Council

David Walsh, Principal Advisor at Historic England added: “The Cornhill Quarter is an outstanding example of heritage-led regeneration which is becoming known nationally.

“We are delighted that the repairs and reinstatement of shopfronts at 38-44 Sincil Street have been completed.

“The shops look great and it is a testament to the skills and expertise of all involved.”