Project Brighton: Gavin Stewart, Executive Director of Brilliant Brighton, announces the plans for Brighton’s brand new interactive Christmas lights

Christmas lights are inherently uncool. Gaudy sentinels of lackluster festivities the length and breadth of the country, they oversee millions of us brits panic buying and squabbling our way through the Christmas season. But not anymore…

For the first time in the UK, Brighton’s city centre Christmas lighting scheme will unveil a new direction for the genre: inviting the public to interact with the lights and share their Christmas experience with family and friends. Western Road and North Street will be adorned with words and emojis, while the North Laine is given a bespoke overhaul befitting of its unique flavour. The Lanes too will be given an uplift with a ceiling of golden light perfectly apt for the independent businesses from those famous twittens.

The lights themselves are a gift to the city from the 517 businesses that make up Brilliant Brighton

Flowing out from the iconic clock tower down North Street, illuminated festive words will span the road, encouraging shoppers to follow the trail towards the North and South Laine. The trail will also continue along Western Road towards Preston Street. From the bottom of North Street visitors will be able to read the twinkling tidings as they walk towards the city centre.

But it’s the words themselves which are the stars of the show, spreading their message of Christmas cheer for us all. Sometimes irreverent, sometimes thoughtful but always very Brighton. After all, who could resist a selfie under the word ‘Fairy’ or a hashtag – ‘Ding-Dong’ in lights.

Brighton legend and Hollywood star Steve Coogan will be joining us for the countdown

The lights themselves are a gift to the city from the 517 businesses that make up Brilliant Brighton. For the last ten years, it’s been the business community footing the bill for the festive lighting and this year, the city centre businesses voted again in favour of digging deep and helping to keep Brighton the fun, eclectic place we all know and love.

To celebrate the big switch-on, Brilliant Brighton has teamed up with Juice 107.2 to throw a free party in the city centre. At 5pm on Wednesday 16th November, East Street will be transformed for an evening of entertainment, music and fun.

Brighton legend and Hollywood Star Steve Coogan will be joining us for the countdown, and live on stage we have performances from Phats & Small (Turn Around) and Kideko & George Kwali (Crank It).

There’s also performances from more of Brighton’s homegrown talent with the Theatre Workshop and the Dionne Slater Singing Group. And if that wasn’t enough – there’s also a free prize giveaway in association with local charity Rockinghorse. Make sure you take your place for a little festive slice of Brighton history. Who said Christmas lights were uncool? Not anymore…

For more details log on to www.brilliantbrighton.com or follow us on Twitter @brillbrighton