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Clyde 1 hosts George Square Christmas lights switch-on

Cassi and George Bowie will host the event that begins at 16.30

Published 17th Nov 2019

Clyde 1 kicks-off the festive period in Glasgow tonight when the Christmas lights are switched on.

Presenters George Bowie and Cassi are hosting the spectacle in George Square, providing music and plenty of banter to the thousand expected to attend.

Up to 13,000 lucky ticket holders will be there for the event which will also feature performances from Michelle McManus and members of the Soundsational Choir, the cast of The Steamie.

The event organisers have appealed to people with tickets to come along early and to dress appropriately for the weather. Gates will be open at 4.30pm and will close sharp at 6.30pm. Anyone arriving late will not gain access to the event.

A record number of tickets were requested for the switch-on of Glasgow’s Christmas Lights on Sunday 17 November. 90,923 unique requests were made for a total of 434,272 tickets, an increase of more than a third on 2018.

The number of tickets requested is equivalent to almost three quarters of the population of Glasgow and would fill Hampden Stadium more than eight times over. The capacity for the event this year is 13,000.

Even with 93% of tickets allocated to people living in Glasgow, only one in every 23 applications from the city was successful this year. For people living outside Glasgow the chance of getting tickets was more than 280 to one.

Entry to the event on Sunday 17 November is by ticket only. Each ticket permits access for one person only and all adults and children of all ages must have a ticket to gain access to George Square.

Road closures will be in place on the day, and full information can be found at the bottom of the page.

Depute Lord Provost of Glasgow Philip Braat said: “Christmas is the most wonderful time of year and we can’t wait to get the festive spirit building across Glasgow.

"We are looking forward to a series of great events in the build-up to the big day which you can enjoy with family and friends. Glasgow will have all you need this Christmas.”

The hugely popular Style Mile Christmas Carnival on Sunday 24 November will bring music, dance and spectacle to the heart of Glasgow. The George Square Christmas Market will open the same day and the St Enoch Christmas Market will open on November 9.

The traditional Blessing of the Crib will be on Wednesday 4 December in George Square.

The city will celebrate its newest citizens with the much loved Baby’s First Christmas on Saturday 7 December. Further details of how to apply will be issued in due course.

Glasgow’s Santa Dash, which saw thousands of runners take part last year, will be held on Sunday 8 December.

ROAD CLOSURES IN PLACE:

06:00hrs to 23:59hrs on the 17 November 2019

  1.         Anchor Lane, for its whole length
  1.         Cochrane Street, for its whole length
  1.         Dundas Lane, for its whole length
  1.         Dundas Street, between West George Street and Dundas Lane
  1.         George Square (north part), for its whole length
  1.         George Square (west part), for its whole length
  1.         George Street, between Montrose Street and George Square
  1.         John Street, between Ingram Street and Martha Street
  1.         Martha Street, for its whole length
  1.      Montrose Street (Northbound), between Ingram Street and Cochrane Street
  1.      Nelson Mandela Place (north part), for its whole length
  1.      Nelson Mandela Place (south part), for its whole length
  1.      North Frederick Street, for its whole length
  1.      North Hanover Street, between George Square and Queen Street Station vehicle access
  1.      South Frederick Street, for its whole length
  1.      West George Street, between West Nile Street and George Square
  1.      George Square (south part), for its whole length
  1.      George Square (east part), for its whole length
  1.      South Frederick Street (northbound), between Ingram Street and George Square
  1.      Hanover Street, for its whole length

06:30hrs to 07:30hrs on the 17 November 2019

  1.         Ingram Street, (West bound) between Queen Street and Glassford Street
  1.         Queen Street, between Ingram Street and George Square

12:00hrs to 23:59hrs on the 17 November 2019

  1.         Montrose Street (Southbound), between Cathedral Street and Ingram Street
  1.         George Street, between Montrose Street and Shuttle Street.

14:00hrs to 23:59hrs on the 17 November 2019

  1.         Ingram Street, (West bound) between Queen Street and Glassford Street
  1.         Queen Street, between Ingram Street and George Square

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