Santa is arriving by Lifeboat and the official light switch on for 2023 will take place on Wednesday December 13th from 18:30

Winter Lights

Our Winter Lights Projects commences as the clocks go back which is Sunday 29th October this year. It’s that time of the year when the excitement is building and the start of the festivities are marked by the Christmas lights going up, they definitely bring a little sparkle and magic to the streets in the darker evenings.

Feedback from businesses in our recent Consultation concluded businesses felt this is the right thing to do due to encourage visitors into town in the darker evenings due to to losing evening light with the winter clock change. Our lights are extremely energy efficient and although we are said to have one of the largest light sets in Europe our huge Fore Street light curtains as an example cost just 7p each to run per day which makes it cost effective when considering how many additional visitors the lights will attract which in turn will bring in additional spending for businesses across town.

Lights will once again include a Fore Street curtain, a curtain around Market House, a canopy in Royal Square, and festoon lights that runs through 9 streets. At the end of November joining our Winter Lights will be the Harbour Lights organised by the fishermen of St Ives who set up the display that stretches from the Lifeboat Station all the way down to Smeaton’s Pier. These lights are part funded by BID and the Town Council in the form of a donation to the fishermen.

Santa arriving by Lifeboat ant the big Light Switch on

The official light ‘switch on’ this year will be on 13th December 2023.

Once again BID are working with the RNLI to bring Santa safely to shore on the Lifeboat. Santa will arrive by Lifeboat at approximately 6:30 pm, he will then start the procession followed by the crowds along The Wharf, Fore Street, Market Square, High Street, Tregenna Place and then onto Cafe Art in Royal Square where he will be greeted by the Mayor of St. Ives. The big switch on will take place from Cafe Art in Royal Square between approximately 7pm-7:30pm where the main tree in the square will also be lit.

Please join us for a wonderfully festive evening with The Town Band, Carol Singers, local choirs, mulled wine, hot chocolate and much more……..