Marylebone Village Christmas Lights

Marylebone Village is set to kick off Christmas with a spectacular event to raise money for charity.

Actress and local resident Dame Barbara Windsor will be officially switching the Christmas lights on in Marylebone High Street, on November 15, at 6pm.

The event will also include live music performances on the main stage by children from local schools, professional solo artists and musical groups.

Father Christmas is setting up his temporary magical grotto to welcome children and will be bringing along his reindeer to meet and greet families. The north end of Marylebone High Street and Paddington Street will be awash with festive fun as fairground rides and a variety of craft and food stalls take over the streets. Many local shops and restaurants will be offering special Christmas promotions and treats, such as mince pies, hot chocolate, mulled wine and sherry.

The event is organised annually by local landlord The Howard de Walden Estate. This year the event will support the charity School Home Support (SHS), which works with children and families to maximise educational opportunities for youngsters. Partnering with schools, local authorities and communities, SHS looks beyond the classroom to understand and tackle the issues affecting children’s learning, such as poverty, housing and mental health.

Barbara Windsor, who has lived in Marylebone Village for 30 years said: “I am delighted to be part of this wonderful event being held in support of such a worthy cause. The work School Home Support does is vital to the lives of the many children it helps. It’s great to be highlighting such an incredible charity.

“Marylebone Village has always had a unique sense of community, which I am proud to be part of. This event will bring everyone together to mark the start of the festive season in style and is sure to be an evening full of sparkle and celebration.”