A citywide campaign has been launched to celebrate Bath at Christmas, with events planned to bring festive cheer to residents across the area.
Image © B&NES Council / Visit Bath
This year will see the return of popular Christmas activities, as well as new additions.
Events include the return of the popular Bath Christmas Light Trail, which first came to the city in 2020.
The trail will launch on Thursday 25th November with an official Bath Christmas Light Trail Switch-On event in Milsom Street, where participants will be joined by community heroes to celebrate the start of the festive season.
After a year away, Bath on Ice will offer visitors the opportunity to have a spin around the rink and enjoy a drink in Moguls Bar, and there will be chances to meet and purchase from local makers in Abbey Quarter and at Bath Artisan Market in Queen Square.
Bath Abbey will host Luke Jerram’s popular Museum of the Moon, with Christmas carols, storytelling and moon-gazing with the Bath Astronomers taking place with the seven-metre moon as a backdrop.
Another new addition this year is the Elves’ Swapshop, made possible by the Bath BID and Share and Repair Bath.
Children are invited along to meet Father Christmas’s elves and swap an old toy for an upcycled toy of their choice using the fabulous Elf-O-Matic toy upcycler.
Residents are being encouraged to visit Bath BID’s Welcome to Bath website for event listings, an interactive Bath Christmas Light Trail map, and practical information to help you plan your trip.
The Visit Bath website will showcase Bath at Christmas including a comprehensive list of events, things to do, where to eat and drink and places to stay.
Allison Herbert, Chief Executive of the Bath BID, said: “Bath is always a wonderful place to spend time, and we have been working with Bath & North East Somerset Council, Visit Bath, Milsom Place and SouthGate Bath to ensure that it’s even more magical this festive season.
“We are so pleased that many of Bath’s iconic buildings will be illuminated once again and are excited to be celebrating with an official switch-on event.
“We are also proud to be working with Share and Repair Bath on the Elves’ Swapshop, which will give children the opportunity to have a go on the Elf-O-Matic toy upcycler and shine a light on Father Christmas’s hard-working elves!
“Bath’s fantastic range of places to eat and drink are all keen to welcome people for the festive season, and the city is also the perfect place to do your Christmas shopping, with a fantastic mix of high street favourites and independent gems, and Thursday late-night shopping from 25th November. We hope that people will head into the city to experience the magic of Bath this Christmas!”
Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture, said: “I know many are looking forward to the outdoor events and entertainment happening across Bath at Christmas, and there will be lots of light and sparkle for everyone to enjoy.
‘We want people to enjoy a safe and happy Bath at Christmas. We are encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy the city and all it has to offer but also to be mindful that we still to take some precautions to reduce the spread of Covid.”
Kathryn Davis, Director of Tourism, Visit West, added: ‘“Bath is a beautiful destination at any time of the year, but it truly sparkles at Christmas. There is so much to look forward to during the festive period, with seasonal experiences further enhancing the already impressive visitor offer.
“With a rich array of hospitality, entertainment and beautiful places to stay, Bath at Christmas really is magical.”
