More details released of how Salisbury will celebrate Christmas
Countdown to festive season is underway
Last updated 19th Oct 2022
We're getting a better picture of how Salisbury will celebrate Christmas this year including a snow machine!
Salisbury BID, Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury City Council and Wiltshire Creative have come together to put on a range of events.
The city's lights will go on during Friday the 18th November, although there'll be no fanfare, countdown and fireworks instead we're told they will be switched on 'gradually'.
We are being reassured the decorations will be better this year as the City Council has invested in 'festoon style' ones whilst the trees in the Market Place will again be wrapped with twinkling lights.
How will Salisbury start the festive season?
A family festive event will take place in the Market Place on the 18th November from 4pm- 8pm and will feature reindeer, The Grinch, carol singers and fair rides.
Salisbury’s popular performers ‘The Deloreons’ will be providing the soundtrack with some festive singalongs too.
The same day marks the opening of 'Christmas on the Square' in front of the Guildhall where the focus will be on food and drink.
The popular Frost Bar also makes a return with its fire pits!
They'll be a Santa's Grotto too in the Guildhall Square, visits can be pre booked via the Experience Salisbury website for £6.
The traditional German style wooden huts won't be there this year though, instead they'll be a series of festive markets on Sundays.
These will take place in the Market Place from 27th November until 18th December.
Salisbury Christmas Trail
The popular Christmas Trail returns from the 18th November until 2nd January with 'magical decorations and Christmas characters'.
Trail maps will be available on the Experience Salisbury website or the Information Centre.
Panto returns with Cinderella at Salisbury Playhouse
The Rags to Riches tale of Cinderella is this year's pantomime with the first performance on Saturday 26th November
Tickets are on sale now from the Wiltshire Creative website. 
Salisbury Arts Centre will be offering crafty workshops along with Dicken's festive fable; A Christmas Carol.
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, for many the focal point of Christmas, will host the popular Darkness to Light Procession, which marks the start of Advent.
The services will take place on Friday 25th November at 19.00, Saturday 26th November at 19.00 and Sunday 27th November at 17.00.
For the little ones there's a special screening of The Snowman which will take place on Monday 19th December.
Two festive films, the titles are yet to be announced will also be shown in the Nave on the 17th December.
The ever poplar Carols by Candlelight on Thursday 22nd December and Friday 23rd December at 19.00. No tickets are required, and everyone is welcome.
Star-studded window displays
Thanks to Salisbury BID, the stars of the BBC’s ‘Interior Design Masters’ return to Salisbury this Christmas to give three businesses a festive makeover.
The window displays created by Fran Lee, Amy Davies and Dean Powell will be unveiled on the 18th of December