Brindleyplace lights up Christmas with the BFG

Be nosier than a parker at lights turn-on.

Roald Dahl fans are in for a treat as the Big Friendly Giant (BFG), a snozcumber and Sophie from The REP Theatre’s Christmas production of The BFG will all be heading to Brindleyplace at the end of this month to turn on the Christmas lights at the popular city centre development.

The Christmas light switch-on event will take place on Monday 24th November from 5pm and will feature festive street entertainment, a close harmony choir and a live band performing popular Christmas songs into the evening. A free minced pie and cup of mulled cider will also be available to the first 500 visitors on a first come, first served basis.

During the light switch-on there will also be volunteers from local charity, Acorns Children’s Hospice, dressed in Santa costumes busy fundraising and encouraging people to get involved with its annual Santa Run, which takes place on Saturday 6th December. The fundraising event will see hundreds of people dressed as Santa running 5km (or walking 2km) to help raise funds for local life limited children.

This year, the Christmas light switch-on will also coincide with the launch of Brindleyplace’s Christmas Jumper selfie competition. Open to both the general public and the business community, the competition is calling for people to don their most embarrassing Christmas jumpers, Santa hats, reindeer antlers, and all other forms of seasonal accessories, to create a festive selfie photo in Brindleyplace on Santa’s Selfie Steps located around the estate. To enter, people are being asked to upload their photo to Twitter, mentioning @brindleyplace and using the hashtag #BpXmasSelfie. The competition is open until 12th December and the winner will receive a £100 gift voucher for Selfridges.

Alison Murphy from the Destination Marketing team at Brindleyplace, said: “This year we wanted to make Christmas at Brindleyplace even more memorable and the festive season just isn’t complete without an embarrassing photo wearing a horrendously glittery, extra woolly or heavily patterned Christmas jumper.

“Our restaurants, bars and cafés are always buzzing, especially at this time of year, with people celebrating at Christmas parties or grabbing a bite to eat after an extravagant shopping trip. Just don’t forget to take a quick snap of yourself and you could make your Christmas even more special by winning a £100 Selfridges gift voucher.”

Caroline Young, also from the Destination Marketing team, said: “At Brindleyplace, we’re hosting a series of free family events to spread the festive spirit amongst our occupiers, their employees and the general public. Our Christmas light switch-on is the first fun-filled event to mark the start of the magical season we’ve got planned.”

Christmas events at Brindleyplace include:
– Monday 24 November – Christmas Light Switch On hosted by FREE Radio
– Saturday 6 December – Acorns Children’s Hospice 5km Santa Run
– Sunday 7 December – FREE Radio Christmas Stars Final
– Thursday 11 December –The National Deaf Children’s Society presents Live Festive Music
– Friday 12 December – Brindleyplace Tenants’ Christmas Party

For more information about all the events taking place at Brindleyplace, visit www.brindleyplace.com

For more information about The REP’s production of The BFG, visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk.