The Shrewsbury College Performing Arts Choir, conducted by Michael Jenkins, will replace the advertised act, musician Stephan Jay, who has had to pull out of the event due to illness.
Shoppers will now be able to catch Shrewsbury College Performing Arts Choir in the Darwin Shopping Centre (mid-level) from 5.45pm – 6.15pm.
The choir join a packed programme of entertainment, which kicks-off at 5pm, to mark the launch of Shrewsbury Town Council’s Christmas lights display and the start of festive late night shopping.
The town will welcome back the popular lantern parade, which will start at 6pm from the Riverside Shopping Centre. The procession of lanterns will then lead out onto Pride Hill, headed by the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Councillor Jon Tandy and the Town Crier, Martin Wood, move along Butcher Row, Fish Street and High Street, arriving in the Square for a 6.30pm switch-on.
As well as the spectacular lantern parade, organisers have lined up a whole host of musical entertainment from school and gospel choirs, to acoustic singers and even a ukulele band and German Oompah act. There will also be dance performances in the Square and, of course, Santa in his sleigh, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Shawbury and Mid Shropshire.
Performances will take place in the Square, Pride Hill & Darwin Shopping Centres and Shrewsbury Market Hall.
Joining in the fun will be children’s character Lalaloopsy who will be making a very special appearance, courtesy of The Entertainer from 5-6pm on Pride Hill.
Members of the public will also get the chance to meet some of the cast from this year’s Theatre Severn pantomime, Sleeping Beauty. Eric Smith, who plays the King, and Adam Moss, who is Jangles, will be out on Pride Hill after the lantern parade, from 6.45pm.
The event will then culminate with the launch of the Tree of Light in Darwin Shopping Centre at 7pm, with entertainment continuing until 7.30pm.
Shrewsbury’s Christmas Cracker is being sponsored by Shrewsbury Shopping Centres, The Parade and Write Here, and is supported by Shrewsbury Town Council and Theatre Severn.
Gina Evans, from Shrewsbury College said: “Students from our Higher National Diploma in Musical Theatre course are thrilled to be part of such a seasonal event in Shrewsbury. This is just one of many engagements this year. For further information please follow @shrewsburycoll #HQPA on Twitter.”
The full event programme is now available to download from www.shrewsburychristmascracker.co.uk or pick up your copy from event stewards on the night.
-- Yoland Brown Brownhill House B&B, Ruyton XI Towns, nr. Shrewsbury SY4 1LR ShACC - Shropshire Alternative Car Club www.eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.com www.ShACC-uk.org Tel: 01939 261 121 Fax: 01939 260626
