Get ready for Christmas in North Northants

08 November 2021

Following last year’s disruption to the Christmas light switch on, North Northamptonshire Council are delighted to announce that this year the Christmas light switch on will return to Kettering and Wellingborough.

Kettering’s Market Place will be illuminated during a ceremony from 4pm - 8pm on Thursday 25 November and Wellingborough’s will light up between 2:30pm - 6pm on Saturday 27 November.

Kettering’s light switch on will be hosted by local community radio station Shire Sounds. The town’s festive celebrations will include live performances from singer ‘The Tenor’ and a band on stage, plus local dance group and the stars of Cinderella at the Masque Theatre. There will also be a funfair, fire engine, Kettering Lions’ Santa Sleigh, street performers, and Christmas gifts, food & drink Market, Festive Fair at St. Peter and St. Paul’s church from 3pm - 8pm and much more!

Whilst on Saturday in Wellingborough the lights will be turned on and local music acts and performers from The Castle Theatre will help kick start the festive season in the town. There will also be a series of activities and events in Wellingborough across the lead up to Christmas.

After a different Christmas for us all last year, it is great that we are able to host Christmas celebrations once again. There truly will be something for everyone and I am looking forward to the lights being turned on in Kettering and Wellingborough to herald the start of the festive season.Cllr Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of NNC & Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism

The light switch on in Kettering will also kick off a season of festive events across the town, with a Christmas market on Kettering Market Place on Saturday 4, 11 and 18 December with lots of gift ideas, food, drink with festive entertainment for the whole family. 

Also, from Saturday 27 November - Friday 24 December, why not have a go at the ’12 Days of Christmas’ trail around Kettering town centre. Grab a map from Kettering swimming pool and explore the town centre to find twelve clues in different shops and claim a treat.

We are delighted to be able to offer free parking in Kettering and Corby over the festive period. It has been a difficult year for businesses and we hope this, alongside the festive activities on offer, will improve footfall along our high streets.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of NNC

As part of the Christmas festivities, and to support local businesses, North Northamptonshire Council will be offering free parking in Kettering and Corby town centre on the following days in December:

• all day on Saturday 4, 11 and 18 December 2021, and
• after 3pm on Thursday 25 November 2021 (existing measure in place in Kettering)
• Please note - parking is free in Wellingborough all year round.

The events in Kettering, as well as those being run by Wellingborough Town Council in Wellingborough, have been made possible thanks to the Government’s Welcome Back Fund.  This has been awarded to North Northamptonshire Council from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to enable local authorities to deliver projects and initiatives to help boost the local economy, support local businesses, promote the local area and welcome people back to their local High Street safely.  

Locally, this includes the launch of a new campaign called ‘Hi Street!’ to encourage residents to rediscover all their local High Street has to offer, especially at Christmas time, including retail, food and drink, culture and health and beauty services.  

Find out more about ‘Hi Street!’ and how the Welcome Back Fund is being used in North Northamptonshire.

To find out more about Christmas in Kettering.