Business District launches its festive programme.

Colmore Business District is well and truly counting down to Christmas following the switch-on of its Christmas lights on Saturday 8 November, with a jam-packed events calendar planned for the next six weeks.

For the third year running, Colmore Business District has joined forces with the organisers of popular film festival, Flatpack, to host Silent Night at Birmingham Cathedral; a night of silent cinema with live musical accompaniment. Taking place on Thursday 20 November from 7pm, this year’s film is the black and white classic comedy, Steamboat Bill Jr.

Having proved a sell-out event for the past two years, Colmore Business District is expecting more than 150 people to attend this year’s Silent Night event. Tickets for the evening cost just £5 and include festive nibbles on arrival at the Cathedral, with mulled wine available throughout the evening.

Michele Wilby, Colmore Business District Executive Director, said: “Silent Night is a fantastic opportunity to experience cinema in a completely different environment. How many people can say they’ve watched a classic film in a cathedral? Based on the success of previous years, I predict this year will be another sell-out event and a great way to kick off Christmas in Colmore Business District.”

Following Silent Night, Colmore Business District will be livening up people’s evening commute on Wednesday 10th December as roller-skating Christmas puddings and ballerinas descend upon Snow Hill Station Square. There will also be performances from the District’s very own choir, Colmore Chorus, as well as live music from local buskers.

Adding to the merriment, on Friday 12 December Moseley Arts Market will be returning to the Cathedral grounds with its Christmas market, providing the perfect opportunity for people to pick up some unique handmade gifts for friends and family.

Mike Best, Executive Director at Turleys and chair of Colmore Business District’s Place Marketing group, said: “Part of the role of Colmore Business District is to create a sense of community within Birmingham’s business quarter. Every year our Christmas events get a great response from companies and professionals working in the local area, as well as members of the general public. This year our aim has been to provide a number of events that will help everyone get into the Christmas spirit, from carol singing to Christmas shopping and learning how to make the perfect Christmas card.”

Colmore Chorus, which is made up entirely of professionals who work in the District, will be performing at various venues throughout December, including the Old Joint Stock, Snow Hill Station Square, outside St Paul’s Church in the Jewellery Quarter, Great Western Arcade and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Mike said: “We’ve also been lucky enough this year to have some bespoke Christmas lights created for the area. We had a fantastic response to the lights switch-on at the weekend, with more than 35,000 people coming along to watch the parade.”

The Christmas lights on Edmund Street, Barwick Street and Margaret Street were created for Colmore Business District with the help of Dean Meyer from City Centre Management at Birmingham City Council. The bespoke design is of an elaborate bow wrapped around the Victorian street lights, alternating between red and white designs. In 2012, Colmore Business District also created bespoke Christmas lights for Cornwall Street.

For further information about Christmas events in Colmore Business District, visit www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com/