Just a quick reminder that the annual switching on of Wednesfield‘s Christmas lights takes place next Friday, 3rd December from 3:30pm onwards.

The event is set to be bigger and better than ever before and includes loads for kids to do.

Approximate running order:

3:30pm: High Street closed – buses/traffic will be diverted along Alfred Squire Rd and Neachells Lane.

Dickie Dodd’s Wolf FM Roadshow will be broadcasting from outside Age UK (Help The Aged) in the High Street to celebrate the shop’s 15th year in Wednesfield.

Fayre ground rides will be available for children to enjoy.

4pm – 5pm: Children from local school choirs will sing Christmas carols inside St Thomas’ Church – the audio (and possibly video) will be broadcast outside the Church.

5:30pm: Wednesfield native and runner up on BBC TV show The Apprentice, Ruth Badger and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett will switch on the lights (including Christmas Tree lights).

6:30pm: The High Street will re-open to traffic after the event has finished.

Find out more in our recent article, or read the Council’s press release.

The annual switching on of the Christmas Lights in Wednesfield which takes place on Friday 3rd December this year is set to be bigger and better than ever.

Not only will Wednesfield have it’s very own Christmas Tree located in front of the new Library (the first for several years), but this year’s switch on will see the Hight Street closed to traffic in order to accommodate more people,  fayre ground rides and The Wolf FM’s Dickie Dodd and his roadshow.

Approximate running order:

3:30pm: High Street closed – buses/traffic will be diverted along Alfred Squire Rd and Neachells Lane.

Dickie Dodd’s Wolf FM Roadshow will be broadcasting from outside Age UK (Help The Aged) in the High Street to celebrate the shop’s 15th year in Wednesfield.

Fayre ground rides will be available for children to enjoy.

4pm – 5pm: Children from local school choirs will sing Christmas carols inside St Thomas’ Church – the audio (and possibly video) will be broadcast outside the Church.

5:30pm: Wednesfield native and runner up on BBC TV show The Apprentice, Ruth Badger and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett will switch on the lights (including Christmas Tree lights).

6:30pm: The High Street will re-open to traffic after the event has finished.

Photo by Steph Jennings / Stuff By Steph.

Friday afternoon saw over 200 local residents fill Wednesfield High Street outside St Thomas’ Church for the annual Christmas lights switch on.

The festivities included a choir service with performances from several local schools, a visit from Father Christmas who gave out sweets and raffle tickets and a speech from Wolverhampton’s Mayor, Councillor Surjan Singh Duhra.

Around 4:30pm Apprentice star and Wednesfield native Ruth Badger took to the stage to switch the lights on. Commenting on how she’d once watched the lights being switched on whilst sitting in the Job Centre down the road, Ruth whipped the crowd into a frenzy for the countdown to the switch on. Watch our video above to see the countdown!

The event begins at 3:30pm with the lights being switched on at around 4:30pm.

Is it time to put your decorations up?

The event is set to take place on Friday 27th November 2009, and will begin at 3:30pm with the lights being switched on at 4:30pm.

Be sure to make a note of the date and help bring the Christmas spirit to Wednesfield this year!

Since finishing as runner up on the 2006 series of The Apprentice Ruth has presented her own TV show, Badger or Bust, and now has her own consultancy firm, Ruth Badger Consultancy Ltd in Manchester . The former Wodensfield Primary School pupil now looks set to be ‘driving home for Christmas’.

Local officials are pledging to make this year’s Christmas lights turn on bigger and better than ever before – stay tuned for further details very soon.