Dover counts down to Christmas with Dover’s Winter Light Up and Big Locals Big Noel

Dover Town Council, Dover District Council and Destination Dover are delighted to announce Dover’s Winter Light Up – an all-day celebration of festive fun in Dover town centre on Saturday 4th December.

The event will combine a Christmas Market with live entertainment, exciting Christmassy activities and an interactive evening of festive illumination, with a lantern procession parading through the town centre to accompany the seasonal splendour of Dover’s Christmas lights.

Dover’s Heritage Quarter will be transformed into a winter’s wonderland with Christmas crazy golf, escape rooms, live performances and Ceramic Art Dover’s raku firing and interactive workshops amongst some of the attractions that are set to delight visitors, who will also be able to enjoy shopping from the craft stalls and sampling the food and drink of the Christmas Market.

Taking place in Ladywell Car Park behind Maison Dieu in Dover, the Christmas Market and entertainment get underway from midday. The lantern parade is due to start at 4pm and, together with Dover’s Christmas lights, will illuminate the town centre as dusk falls. Featuring exciting giant lantern characters, the parade will be delivered by Dover’s Future Foundry, who staged the hugely successful Walk With Amal event in Dover, “Light Leads The Way”, in October 2021. Children from Dover’s primary schools are invited to a free lantern-making workshop on Sunday 28th November at Biggin Hall, ahead of the procession the following week.

Visitors to Dover on Saturday 4th December will also be able to take advantage of free parking in Dover District Council’s car parks across the district for Small Business Saturday, as the Council continues to work to support local businesses.

Councillor Gordon Cowan, Mayor of Dover, said: “It’s wonderful to put on this event in Dover and work in partnership, bringing the community together to enjoy this special time of year after such a challenging period.”

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader, Dover District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to support this all-day celebration and to feel excited for a whole season of Christmassy events across White Cliffs Country this year. Following the pandemic, this is a great opportunity for our communities to enjoy festive activities and events that were sadly missed last Christmas, and to support our amazing local businesses at an important time in the business calendar.

“We are delighted to work with Dover Town Council and Destination Dover to offer this wonderful free event for the community and, with free parking also being offered in Council car parks on that day, everyone can look forward to an enjoyable and successful day.”    

Pitches are still available for the Christmas Market and are free. To register for a pitch, please complete the event form: https://www.destinationdover.org/dovers-winter-light-up