The full entertainment line-up has been announced for Newport Now’s Countdown to Christmas family fun event.
Running from 2.45pm to 5.15pm, Countdown to Christmas will feature live music, fairground rides and celebrity guests, culminating in the official switching on of Newport’s city centre Christmas lights and a breath-taking fireworks display.
Organised by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council, Friars Walk and Newport City Radio, Countdown to Christmas will mirror the BID’s hugely successful previous events with the main stage based at the junction of Charles Street and Commercial Street.
Last year’s event attracted more than 7,000 additional people into the city centre compared with an average Saturday.
The November 18 event will be hosted by presenters from Newport City Radio with acts on stage varying from local bands to the cast of the city’s pantomime to a star of the West End:
- Newport-based Ukrainian singer-songwriter Lietta..
- Newport band The Rogues.
- Right Keys Only
- West End star Sophie Evans will be topping the bill, singing a selection of family and festive favourites.
Father Christmas will be making an appearance, along with stars of the Riverfront Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast panto.
The event will also include fairground rides along on the riverfront from noon to 9pm.
A Newport community champion will be helping the city’s mayor Councillor Trevor Watkins push the button to light up the city centre for the festive season at 5pm before the fireworks display at 5.15pm.
Their identity will be revealed next week, along with the full running order for the event and one more surprise for a group of lucky Newport primary school pupils
Countdown to Christmas is the latest in a series of city centre events organised or funded by Newport Now BID, a private company representing and funded by more than 600 city centre businesses.
