Key Points
- Rainham starts the festive season on November 14 with a Christmas lights switch-on at Harris Academy Sports Hall due to bad weather.
- Mayor of Havering Cllr Sue Ospreay will officially switch on the lights at 6.30pm in Rainham.
- Hornchurch High Street lights come on November 15, hosting the Hornchurch Christmas Cracker event.
- Upminster’s switch-on spans several locations on November 21, featuring music and a Santa’s Sleigh.
- Harold Hill’s Hilldene Shopping Centre lights switch on November 23 with stalls, rides, and a Santa meet-and-greet.
- Elm Park and Collier Row hold Christmas festivities on November 28, including rides, markets, and reindeer.
- Harold Wood hosts the Light Before Christmas event on November 29 with food vendors, a nativity scene, and Santa.
- Mayor Cllr Sue Ospreay invites residents to celebrate and thanks sponsors and community groups.
What are the dates and locations for Havering’s Christmas light switch-ons?
As reported by local sources, Havering Borough’s festive season begins on November 14 in Rainham. Due to a forecast for bad weather outdoors, the switch-on event will move indoors to Harris Academy Sports Hall starting from 5pm. The Mayor of Havering, Cllr Sue Ospreay, will officially turn on the lights at 6.30pm. The event will feature entertainment including performing princesses, Christmas carols, food vendors, and Christmas stalls. A Santa meet and greet will be available to visitors, with free entry for all attending.
The next day, November 15, Hornchurch High Street’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm. Alongside the light switch-on, the Hornchurch Christmas Cracker event will run from 11am to 5pm. This celebration includes fairground rides, Christmas stalls, and a treasure hunt, providing a full day of festive activities.
Upminster will celebrate on November 21 with light switch-on events across several locations, including Upminster Junior School, Station Road, Upminster Library, and Corbets Tey Road. The festivities will take place from 3pm to 6pm and will feature performances from the Romford Drum and Trumpet Corp, as well as the Upminster Baptist Church Choir. Moreover, Santa’s Sleigh will make appearances as a float from Hornchurch and Upminster Rotary, complemented by children’s rides hosted at Upminster Junior School.
On November 23, Harold Hill’s Hilldene Shopping Centre will host a festive celebration starting at noon, continuing until 6pm. The Mayor will switch on the tree lights at 5.30pm. Visitors can enjoy market stalls, singers, free rides for children, and a chance to meet Santa.
Elm Park and Collier Row will hold separate Christmas festivities on November 28. Elm Park’s event, scheduled from 3.30pm to 6pm, offers free activities such as a carousel, stilt walkers, face painting, and the official switching on of the Christmas tree lights at 5pm. From 4pm onwards, Collier Row town centre will present “The Grouch Who Stole Christmas”, ending at 8pm with various attractions including reindeer sightings outside Keys & Lee, a craft trail, and stalls set up at the North Romford Community Centre and Ascension Church. The Christmas tree lights in Collier Row will be switched on at 6pm.
Finally, on November 29, Harold Wood’s Station Road car park will transform for a free “Light Before Christmas” event. Activities will include food vendors, a charity Christmas market, a nativity scene, and opportunities to meet Santa and his elves.
Who is leading the Christmas festivities and what is their message?
Mayor of Havering, Cllr Sue Ospreay, emphasised the communal spirit surrounding this year’s celebrations. She said:
“We are all looking forward to welcoming in the festive period in Havering with the upcoming Christmas events.”
She added,
“Switching on the Christmas tree lights marks the start of the festivities and it will be great to see so many residents come along to help bring in the festive season in each town centre.”
The Mayor also expressed gratitude towards the sponsors and community groups supporting the events this year.
What activities and entertainment will be available at the events?
The Christmas events across Havering towns are designed to engage all age groups and include a wide range of activities:
- Rainham will have princess performances, Christmas carols, entertainment stages, food vendors, festive stalls, and opportunities to meet Santa.
- Hornchurch’s Christmas Cracker features fairground rides, a treasure hunt, and various stalls.
- Upminster offers musical performances, Santa’s Sleigh rides, and children’s activities.
- Harold Hill includes market stalls, singers, free rides for children, and Santa’s presence.
- Elm Park provides a carousel, stilt walkers, face painting, and a festive atmosphere.
- Collier Row focuses on a theatrical Christmas event “The Grouch Who Stole Christmas”, reindeer sightings, craft trails, and market stalls.
- Harold Wood’s Light Before Christmas includes food vendors, a charity Christmas market, a nativity scene, and an opportunity to meet Santa and elves.
Why have some events been moved indoors or adapted?
The Rainham event’s move to Harris Academy Sports Hall has been attributed to a bad weather forecast, ensuring the festivities can continue comfortably and safely indoors.
