Everything you need to know about today's Christmas lights switch-on in Sheffield city centre

When and where will the Christmas lights switch-on take place?

Sheffield's Christmas Lights switch-on event is set to take place across the city centre today from 2pm to 6.30pm with the switch on of the illuminations at 5.30pm from the Peace Gardens Stage.

What to expect?

This year’s event will have something for children and adults alike, with organisers promising to tap into “nostalgic memories of childhood”.

Attendees can expect choirs, Santa’s grotto, carolling, panto, street entertainment, a Christmas market, children’s TV and film characters, Christmas craft activities and fairground rides.

This year’s event will evoke those nostalgic memories of childhood with choirs, Santa’s grotto, carolling, panto, street entertainment, the Christmas market, children’s tv and film characters, Christmas craft activities and fairground rides.

Organisers encourage people to bring the family along to meet children’s film and TV characters, have a go on the Winter Maypole, visit the new Christmas crafts market in the Winter Garden and even meet Father Christmas in his Grotto on Pinstone Street. You can also take a ride on a fire engine and play on the National Emergency Museum’s display of emergency vehicles as the museum goes ‘on tour’ for the day.

Who’s headlining the event?

Local lad and X Factor star Jake Quickenden will hit the big switch to light up the city.

He'll be joined by Britain's Got Talent's Siobhan Phillips and local BGT star Kyle Tomlinson.

There will also be appearances from Sheffield Lyceum's Cinderella panto stars Mr Maker and the Dame funny-man Damien Williams, X-Factor’s Jordan Rabjohn, Channy, Luca, girl band DIVA, dance group Hype Dance, plus The Stagecoach and Vivacity choirs.

What else is taking place in the city centre?

The annual Moor Christmas Party will take place between 12.30pm - 4.30pm with lots to keep little ones entertained including a snow machine, street entertainment with the Snow Lion, Scrooge Carriage, Giant Snowman, dance shows, stilt walking Reindeer and brass band as well as face painting, children’s rides and craft making.

The Christmas Tree Light Switch On at the Moor will take place at 4pm with the Lord Mayor and characters from the Manor Operatic Panto.

Where will motorists be able to park for free?

Sheffield City Council’s free parking scheme returns today, and will be in place every Sunday until Christmas. As part of the scheme, shoppers can park for free in the council’s city centre pay and display car parks.

Transport will be affected for the big event with roads closed and buses diverted on the big day

Which roads will be closed?

- Leopold Street and Pinstone Street will be closed to traffic between 10am and 8.30pm on Sunday, November 17.

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Which bus services will be diverted?

Affected services: 1, 2, 11, 11a, 30a, 51, 52, 52a, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 86, 88, 95, 95a, 97, 98 and 120

Services to operate as follows:

- Service 1 towards Jordanthorpe to operate as normal to High St at Castle Sq then divert via Arundel Gate (serving bus stop AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Service 1 towards High Green will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Service 2 towards Barnsley to operate as normal to West St at the junction of Carver St then divert via Carver St, Wellington St and Rockingham St before resuming normal route on Charter Row. Service 2 towards Royal Hallamshire Hospital will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Services 11 and 11a towards Herdings to operate as normal to High St at Castle Sq then divert via Arundel Gate (service bus stop AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Services 11 towards Chapeltown and 11a towards Fir Vale will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Service 30a towards Sheffield to operate as normal to High St at Castle Sq then divert via Arundel Gate, Furnival Sq and Arundel Gate before terminating at stop CS3 on Arundel Gate. Service 30a towards Plumbley to depart from CS3 and operate normal route.

- Service 51 towards Charnock to operate as normal to West St at the junction of Carver St then divert via Carver St, Wellington St and Rockingham St before resuming normal route on Charter Row. Service 51 towards Lodge Moor will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Services 52 and 52a towards Woodhouse to operate as normal to West St at the junction of Carver St then divert via Carver St, Wellington St, Rockingham St, Charter Row, Fitzwilliam Gate, Cumberland St, Eyre St and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Arundel Gate. Services 52 towards Hillsborough and 52a towards Wisewood will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Services 75 towards Jordanthorpe and 76 towards Lowedges to operate as normal to High St at Castle Sq then divert via Arundel Gate (serving AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Services 75 and 76 towards Shiregreen will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Services 81 and 82 towards Dore to operate as normal to Snig Hill at the junction of Castle St then divert via Castle St, Haymarket, Commercial St, High St, Castle Sq, Arundel Gate (serving AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Services 81 and 82 towards Stannington will be unaffected and should operate normal route.

- Service 83 towards Bents Green to operate as normal to Snig Hill at the junction of Castle St then divert via Castle St, Haymarket, Commercial St, High St, Castle Sq, Arundel Gate (serving AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Service 83 towards Ecclesfield will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Service 86 towards Lowedges to operate as normal to High St at Castle Sq then divert via Arundel Gate (serving AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Service 86 towards Chapeltown will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Service 88 towards Bents Green to operate as normal to Snig Hill at the junction of Castle St then divert via Castle St, Haymarket, Commercial St, High St, Castle Sq, Arundel Gate (serving AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Service 88 towards Ecclesfield will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Services 95 and 95a towards Meadowhall to operate as normal to West St at the junction of Carver St then divert via Carver St, Wellington St, Rockingham St, Charter Row, Fitzwilliam Gate, Cumberland St, Eyre St and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival St. Services 95 and 95a towards Walkley will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Services 97 and 98 towards Totley to operate as normal to High St at Castle Sq then divert via Arundel Gate (serving AG9) and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Furnival Gate. Services 97 and 98 towards Hillsborough will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

- Service 120 towards Halfway to operate as normal to West St at the junction of Carver St then divert via Carver St, Wellington St, Rockingham St, Charter Row, Fitzwilliam Gate, Cumberland St, Eyre St and Furnival Sq before resuming normal route on Arundel Gate. Service 120 towards Fulwood will be unaffected and should operate as normal.

These are the most updated changes of service to make sure you enjoy the event without too much hassle.