Christmas in Cathedral Square Launch!

Christmas in Cathedral Square Launch! Christmas in Cathedral Square dazzles at its launch eventChristmas in Cathedral Square Launch!

Cathedral Square was the focus for Colmore Business District’s Christmas lights switch-on, which took place on Wednesday 15 November.

Hundreds of people gathered in Cathedral Square on Wednesday 15 November to watch the Christmas tree lights being switched on while enjoying live music and delicious food and drinks.

The much-loved Pigeon in the Park pub also opened on Wednesday, along with food stalls serving festive treats. The food and drink stalls feature local restaurants and bars including Gaucho, Chatty Patty, Bar Spot and Vagabond, and there also a number of traditional craft, ornament, gift and jewellery stalls in the Square from an array of local artisans including Glassy Silver, Ugne Makes and Cameler Spice Co.

The market opened at 11am and launch event festivities got underway at 6pm with live music from local artists playing Christmas classics. There were guest appearances on the bandstand from Birmingham Children’s Hospital mascot Bertie, the cast of Birmingham Rep’s magical Christmas Show Little Red Riding Hood (7 December to 6 January)including CBeebies presenter Nisha Anil, cast members from Birmingham Stage Company’s production of Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas ahead of their two performances at Symphony Hall (28 December), and Colmore Business District’s very own Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Glynn Purnell. The Christmas tree lights were switched on at 7pm following a 10-second countdown from the evening’s compere René Lucas-Williams from Vintage Got Soul.

The Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Maureen Cornish, Chair of Colmore BID Nicola Fleet-Milne, and Deputy Chair of Colmore BID Alex Tross also joined visitors to begin the countdown to the festive season.

After the lights were switched on, the crowd enjoyed a free evening of live entertainment including more Christmas classics from the bandstand musicians, roaming stilt walkers and street acts from JP Entertainment, giant pigeons from Fool’s Paradise, and a helter-skelter. 

The event was organised by Colmore BID with support from Birmingham City Council, Danter Attractions Ltd and Birmingham Cathedral.

Christmas in Cathedral Square takes place in the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral and runs until Sunday 17 December 2023, with over 40 stalls offering crafts, food, and drink. The market is open Monday to Wednesday from 11am to 8pm, Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 9pm, and Sunday from 12.30pm to 8pm.