BID Gets Into The Festive Spirit With Two Big Christmas Events
BID Gets Into The Festive Spirit With Two Big Christmas Events
Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.
Christmas remains a vital trading period for high street retailers large and small – and Newport is no exception.
For most city centre businesses it is the single biggest revenue period of the year, despite the ever-growing competition from the internet and out-of-town shopping malls.
So Newport Now BID is again pulling out all the stops with events aimed at increasing footfall and trading opportunities in the run-up to the festive period.
Newport city centre will start the countdown to Christmas with a spectacular event packed with fun for all the family on Saturday, November 15.
Running from 2pm to 5.30pm, the BID’s 10th annual 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 BID in partnership with Newport City Council, Friars Walk and Newport City Radio, Countdown to Christmas will mirror the BID’s hugely-successful previous annual events with the main stage based at the junction of Charles Street and Commercial Street. This year’s event is funded by UK Government via the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Last year’s Countdown to Christmas attracted almost 12,000 additional people into the city centre compared to an average Saturday.
Musical acts will be on stage during the day, with a multi-million selling chart-topper and TV star who has notched three UK number one singles, ten singles that reached the top 10, and five top 10 albums, topping the bill.
Check our website newportnow.co.uk on November 7 for the big reveal of the big star name – who will also be helping the city’s mayor Councillor Kate Thomas push the button to light up the city centre for the festive season.
There will be fairground rides, costume characters, face painters, stage appearances from the cast of Rapuzel – this year’s Riverfront Theatre panto – and Santa, and the event will culminate with the Christmas lights switch-on at 5.15pm followed by the fireworks display at 5.30pm.
The day also marks the start of free parking on Saturdays in council-owned car parks in the city centre, which runs until the end of December.
The BID is also delivering a month-long Christmas Market in the city centre.
Running from November 22 to December 23, the market will be based in John Frost Square and feature more than a dozen festive cabins selling gifts, food and drink.
Also funded by SPF, the market is being delivered in partnership with Mall Solutions and is the first time the BID’s Christmas Market has been situated in John Frost Square.
The success of the street food and music sections of the recent Newport Food Festival showed the venue is perfect for a market, with car parks and public transport hubs nearby and easy access for all.
IMAGES: Library photo from the BID’s Countdown to Christmas event in 2025. Please note these are copyright of Kevin Ward Media and are free to use with an appropriate credit.
Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials
Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast
