Five evenings of late night shopping are about to begin in Cornwall's capital this week following a fabulous Festive Friday Christmas light switch on.
This Wednesday marks the first of five events taking place in Truro, giving shoppers the chance to explore the city’s range of independent and high street shops, as well as cafes, bars and restaurants.
The city centre Christmas lights are now illuminated following last night's Festive Friday switch-on celebrations, which saw crowds of people fill the city to see Father Christmas arrive with his helper, pulled on a sleigh by Rudolph.
Father Christmas and his helper arrive in Truro Pictures: Truro BID
Now it's time to get buying those presents, as in addition to the shops staying open late Truro Farmers Market’s Big Christmas marquee will be open on Lemon Quay until 9pm each Wednesday, with a selection of food, drink, arts and crafts.
The market will also run during normal hours every Thursday to Sunday from November 24 to December 12, and then daily from Wednesday, December 15 to Friday, December 24.
There will also be a selection of street food and drink stalls on Boscawen Street until 9pm.
The main shopping streets will be totally traffic-free on Late Night Shopping Wednesdays from 3pm, as well as all day on Saturdays from November 27.
Truro Farmers Market will be joining the late night shopping events Picture: Stewart Girvan
To add to the festive atmosphere on Wednesday there will be street entertainment dotted around. Truro Business Improvement District (Truro BID) will be organising large-scale projections onto the TUI building in Boscawen Street for the fourth year. From December 8 on Wednesdays there will also be large-scale projections on to the Arts Café in River Street.
The content for the large-scale projections this year focuses on displaying festive artwork produced by local primary school children who entered a Christmas card competition. Truro BID and Joli Boutique in Pannier Market have organised the Christmas card competition in aid of the charity ShelterBox.
Truro’s Christmas lights are funded and installed by BID via the business levy contributions from around 400 Truro businesses, along with past donations from both Lionel and Carol Knight.
Late night shopping is a popular Christmas event in Truro
The city will be extra sparkly this year with some new and replacement Christmas lights following Truro BID being awarded Accelerator Capital Funding from the Truro Town Deal.
Truro BID manager Alun Jones said: “Residents, locals and visitors can enjoy five Wednesday late-night shopping evenings under Truro’s Christmas Lights from 24 November. With the main shopping streets traffic-free on Wednesday afternoons and all day on Saturdays, along street food and entertainment, plus the BIG Christmas Market, Truro really is our great little festive city this year!”
A lights projection on Truro Arts Centre
As with throughout the year, shoppers can take advantage of free parking in Cornwall Council’s long stay car parks from 4pm and short stay car parks from 5pm seven days a week.
There will also be a free parking day at Cornwall Council car parks on Saturday, December 4 and Truro’s Park and Ride will be free to use.
In Truro the following car parks will be free on December 4: Carrick House, Edward Street, Garras Wharf, Moorfield, Moresk, Old Bridge Street, Pydar Street and the Viaduct.
Rudolph with his red nose helped pull the sleigh Pictures: Truro BID
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