Havering set for festive season switch-on

The big switch-on event, taking place from 4.30pm to 7pm on Thursday 16 November 2023, kicks-off the seasonal revelry in Havering.

Time 107.5FM, based in Romford, will be hosting the event, with main sponsor Urbaser and support from Razzmatazz Theatre Schools. 

Headlining the entertainment is DJ Luck and MC Neat, who will be performing their well-known 1999 hit ‘A Little Bit of Luck’, which helped established them as a house hold name in UK music.

As MOBO Award winning and gold-selling artists, DJ Luck and MC Neat, have been regular performers at some of our most well-known festivals such as ‘Party in the Park’, ‘V Festival’ and Glastonbury.

Rozalla will also be taking to the stage with her 90s worldwide dance hit ‘Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)’ which reached the top ten in over 30 countries, including number six in the UK Singles Chart.

Having toured with Michael Jackson, Rozalla opened all of his European ‘Dangerous’ tour dates in the early 90s, so we can expect loads of her club hits to keep the crowd moving.

Several other performers will also be gracing the stage, including Razzamataz Theatre School, and vocalist Vivica Jade, who has featured on ‘The Voice’ and toured with Ed Sheeran, The Pussycat Dolls and JLS.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch will also be treating audiences to a preview of ‘Dick Whittington’ their Christmas pantomime for this year.

The lights will be switched on at 7pm with a firework finale.

Councillor Ray Morgon, the Leader of Havering Council, said:

“The festive lights switch-on in Romford Market Place is such a highlight and it’s when it feels like Christmas gets fully underway in the borough.

“I hope everyone comes along for the wonderful entertainment and fireworks, as we count down to Christmas in Havering.

“My thanks to main sponsor Urbaser and Razzamataz Theatre Schools and Time 107.5 FM for supporting this year’s festivities, their contribution makes this event possible.

“I think it is really important that we enjoy Christmas after the last few tough years.

"However, sadly, given our funding challenges, we might not always be able to host events like this in the coming years. 

“We will have to make some tough choices in the future and continue to make savings.

"However, we will work with our businesses and local communities to see how we can still celebrate in future years.”

The lights switch-on in Market Place, Romford is the first of a number of switch-on and events taking place across the borough in the run-up to Christmas.

For more Christmas events see our Christmas in Havering events list