Light-Up Orpington is a jubilant community event that all residents of Orpington enjoy.

This year it is hosted on Sunday the 19th of November 2024, from 2pm-7pm.

The town’s celebration marking the commencement of the festive season is joyous and fun for every member of the community; from little children to the elderly.

Every year, sometime during mid-November, Orpington’s business community presents a spectacular evening, filled with fun activities, live performances, food stalls and, the main event, the illumination of Christmas light decorations throughout the Highstreet.

The event is popular with thousands of Orpington residents attending.

This event highlights how magic and a festive spirit can bring people together, imagine, thousands of people gathering to see the simple act of switching on the town’s Christmas lights, yet it is one of the most joyous town events of the year.

The lights are switched on early in the event, so get there close to opening time to see it.

For younger children, there are many activities, such as face painting, carousels, a Ferris wheel, and a magical visit from Santa himself!

For adults, a plethora of live entertainment, with local dance and music school performances, a live band performing an array of music both festive and not, as well as a fireworks display to round off the festive fun.

As for food, there are stalls to satisfy everybody’s taste, with of course, the Christmas classics; roasted chestnuts, freshly made, hot, sugar-coated donuts, cinnamon sugar churros, and marvellous (and funky) flavours of fudge.

To warm you, hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows, and plenty of other drinks.

In terms of accessibility, it is inclusive, with ramps stationed around the fair.

There were some unexpected street performers such as some incredibly fashionable hula-hoopers and snow queen-esq women on stilts! The activities are incredible, there is plenty to do, yet England’s inventible rain damped the evening slightly.

Nevertheless, it is still a magical event, rain or not, the first in Orpington to fuel the fire of the town’s Christmas spirit.

Light Up Orpington; another successful year of festive community fun.