Churchtown Village in Southport will bring Christmas to life with its annual festive Switch On event

Churchtown Village in Southport will bring Christmas to life when its annual festive Switch On event returns from 5pm on Thursday (18th November). 

The Churchtown Village Lights Switch On wasn’t able to take place last year due to the Covid pandemic. But families will be looking forward to seeing it return this year, with preparations now underway. 

People can enjoy carol singers performing throughout the village, Christmas carols from The Salvation Army band, Hayley Murray singing Christmas classics at La Tabella, and a special Elf Hunt with some superb prizes on offer. 

Lighting company IllumiDex UK Ltd has been busy installing Christmas trees above the doors of many of the businesses which will be wrapped with lights to make the village glow at night. 

People can enjoy a Christmas tree and decorations in the green outside St Cuthbert’s Church and The Hesketh Arms pub. 

It is a great time for people to start their Christmas shopping, with the doors open at some superb independent local businesses. 

The event this year will be Covid secure and lower-key than the last event, in 2019, with no fairground rides, no big stage and no road closure, although there will still be lots to enjoy. 

Dot Howell, owner of the Dorothy Mae salon on Botanic Road in Churchtown, said: “We are looking forward to running a huge elf hunt this year! A total of 21 local businesses will have elves on display.

“Children will be able to find them all in different situations in the windows of shops, cafes, restaurants and other venues around the village. 

“We have a sheet which people can collect for £2 from the Vintage Tea Room on Botanic Road which contains a map of the village and the names of all 21 elves. Children then have to match the right names to the elves, before handing it in to The Hesketh Arms where there will be a bag of sweets for each winner. 

“They will also be entered into a grand draw with some superb prizes. Families could win a bottle of gin from Remedy, Christmas decorations from Angels, a stuffed bear door stop from Checkers, or vouchers from businesses such as La Tabella, Grapevine, Lucy Lou’s, Dorothy Mae, the Hesketh Arms, Churchtown Deli, the Garden Room, Bump of Churchtown, and others. 

“We’d love to see people come down and enjoy the event with us.

“The village is looking so pretty and there are so many unique, independent businesses here. It’s a lovely place to enjoy Christmas. 

“Everyone in the village is excited about our Christmas Lights Switch On. They are all super enthusiastic, we want to involve the whole community.”