It’s hard to believe it, but today, 24th November 2025 marks six years since Blantyre last enjoyed an official Christmas lights switch-on. The 2019 event, like the years before, brought families together, filled the town with festive sparkle, and created memories that many still speak about. Then came 2020—Covid brought everything to a halt, and sadly, the annual tradition never returned.
Community Volunteer Group ‘Blantyre Community Committee’ sadly closed, on the back of riding waves of successful Summer and Winter events for Blantyre.
In the post covid years that followed, despite the town’s strong community spirit, no formal organisation stepped in to revive the event. Yet the appetite is still there. Each winter, comments appear online asking why Blantyre no longer has its own switch-on, and whether the tradition could ever return.
Over half a decade has passed! Perhaps it’s time for a fresh start for 2026. A new community-led group, bringing together volunteers, local businesses, and supporters, could bring back the magic—restoring a much-missed festive moment that once lit up our town both literally and emotionally. We were partly involved with the previous volunteers and would be happy to pass on all our contacts, tips and guidance.
Would you support the creation of a new organisation to bring back Blantyre’s Christmas lights switch-on?
#Blantyre #CommunitySpirit #Christmas2024 #FestiveSeason #SupportLocal #BringItBack
