Get ready to join in our Christmas festivities!

There’s so much happening throughout the town from now until January, we thought it would be good to give you an event schedule, so you don’t miss a thing!

We kick off our Christmas festivities on 18 November with the Old Town Christmas Light Switch-On and then Junior Andre is popping to Stevenage on 25 November to switch on the Town Centre Christmas Lights and sing a few songs too.

The Christmas Market is open from 18 November to 31 December. It’s a great opportunity to shop local and grab some lovely bespoke gifts for those people lucky enough to have made it onto your Christmas list.

We’re also celebrating 50 Years of the Indoor Market with the Christmas Gala on 9 December. Santa’s Grotto will be open for little visitors on 9 and 16 December, so why not come along from 1pm to 4pm and meet Father Christmas? Take a look at the rest of our action-packed Christmas events and add them to your diary while you have a spare five minutes.

While we’re on the subject of Christmas, this year's town centre Christmas tree will be an artificial, reusable tree - one that can be used in years to come and stored carefully, rather than being disposed of with the other millions of trees that are thrown away each year.

We’re looking forward to seeing the new artificial tree being installed this week. It’s going to be a big one and will create a real Christmassy backdrop in the town centre ready for the Stevenage Christmas light-switch on.

It will also reduce the cost of transporting a real tree, as well as disposing of it once the Christmas period is over too. The large artificial Christmas tree can also be relocated more easily than a real tree, as the plans for the regeneration take shape and changes in the town centre occur.

Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of the Council said: “Christmas is a wonderful time of the year here in Stevenage. As Christmas cheer starts to spread, I cannot wait to see lots of people enjoying time together at all these events, creating happy memories and filling the town with happiness.

“The new large artificial tree will provide a lovely backdrop in Stevenage Town Centre for many years to come and although different to previous years it will still look beautiful lit-up, I’m looking forward to seeing it make an appearance soon as we get ready for the town Christmas festivities.”