St Helier prepares for a sparkling start to Christmas
Christmas is set to arrive in St Helier with a weekend of lights, entertainment and festive activity designed to bring people into town and support local businesses.
The Parish will officially welcome the season with two days of celebrations on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November, as this year’s Christmas lights are switched on in the heart of town.
The programme has been planned to complement the start of late-night shopping, with businesses across St Helier being encouraged to make Thursday 19 November their own.
Following conversations with retailers, the Parish has listened to businesses who want the opportunity to create their own ‘night out’ shopping events on Thursday evening – from special offers and launches to drinks, music and other in-store experiences – before the Parish’s main Christmas celebrations begin the following day.
Something for everyone
Friday will bring the traditional excitement of the Christmas Lights Switch-on, with entertainment in town throughout the day, music in Parade Gardens and the much-loved Santa parade making its way through St Helier during the evening before the town is illuminated for Christmas.
The celebrations will continue on Saturday, with live entertainment from lunchtime and a programme designed particularly with families and younger children in mind.
Alongside a Tiny Tots Switch-on earlier in the day, the Parish is planning a dedicated Neurodiverse/sensory-friendly Switch-on, offering a more comfortable Christmas experience for people who may find the noise, crowds and stimulation of the main Friday event challenging.
Connétable of St Helier, Inna Gardiner, said:
“Christmas is such an important time for St Helier, and I feel very strongly that we should be doing everything we can to support our high street, our independent businesses, our restaurants and everyone who works so hard to make town special.
“We have listened to businesses, and one of the messages we heard was that they wanted space to make the first evening of late-night shopping their own. So on Thursday, we really want people to come into town, discover what individual shops are putting on and enjoy an evening of Christmas shopping, food and drink.
“Then on Friday, we hope people will turn out in force for the lights switch-on and enjoy all the excitement and atmosphere that comes with it.
“But we also recognise that a busy evening with crowds, music and lots happening will not be the right environment for everybody.
“That is why Saturday is really important to us too. We want Christmas in St Helier to feel welcoming and accessible, so there will be a sensory-friendly switch-on as well as a Tiny Tots event for our younger visitors.
“Whether you want the excitement of Friday night or something a little gentler with the family on Saturday, we want there to be a Christmas celebration in town that works for you. Come in, make a day or evening of it, enjoy the entertainment and support our local businesses while you are here.”
Bringing businesses together
The Parish is also delighted to have established a new group bringing together retailers, hospitality businesses and other organisations with a stake in the future of the town centre.
Its first meetings have already generated real enthusiasm and a clear appetite for working together on new initiatives, with the Parish now looking ahead to an ambitious programme for 2027 designed to bring even more activity, vibrancy and reasons to visit St Helier.
The Connétable added:
“There is a real energy among businesses at the moment about what we can do together next. We have had some really productive first conversations, and there is a clear appetite to be ambitious about 2027 and find new ways to make town feel vibrant, exciting and full of reasons to visit.
“More than anything, I would encourage Islanders to support local this Christmas. Come into town, explore, shop, eat, drink and enjoy everything St Helier has to offer.”
The Parish is working with retailers, hospitality businesses, event organisers and cultural partners to create a more coordinated Christmas experience across the town centre.
Businesses are also being encouraged to develop their own festive activations and experiences, helping visitors find something a little different as they move through town.
Further details of the Friday and Saturday entertainment programme, including timings for the parade and family events, will be announced ahead of the weekend.
Any businesses wishing to join the working group should email [email protected].
Timetable:
- Thursday 19th November – Launch of late-night shopping
- Friday 20th November – Santa parade and main light switch-on
- Saturday 21st November – Children and family events: Sensory-friendly and Tiny Tots Switch-ons