Big Switch On

The Big Switch On is on the 28th November 2025 in the Square.

The timings will be:

17.10 – Santa arrives at wharf on Audlem Lass and process to the Grotto
17.30 – Grotto opens (booking system will be advertised beforehand)
18.10 – Grotto closes, Santa makes way to the Big tree
18.20 – St James school children sing by the Buttermarket
18.30- The Big tree is switched on
18.45 – Santa's Grotto re-opens
19.30 – Grotto closes

Alongside the Big Switch On, many shops will extend their opening hours to enable you to conduct some late night shopping.

The Big Switch On is the culmination of many activities that ADAS undertake beforehand.

The following describes the Switch On work for 2024

In August planning starts for the event by dusting off the checklist and ordering the 68 small Christmas trees from Crewe road Nursery. Tree lights are checked and new ones ordered to replace any damaged ones.

The following is the work involved to make the event happen:

W/c 11th November – Small trees delivered
Monday – 11th November – cabling of shops, houses etc. – starts at 13.30
Tuesday – 12th November – remove flags – start at 10.00 at Buttermarket – if cabling not completed we will complete it after taking flags down
Thursday – 14th November – date subject to small tree delivery, will trim trees to size
Monday – 18th November – big tree (kindly donated by Nicki Dakin) work starts at 11.00 and then erected in square
Wednesday - 20th November – dress small trees
Thursday – 21st November – complete dressing of small trees
Saturday – 23rd November – put up small trees in village – start at 09.30 – tree distribution and ladder teams required
Tuesday – 26th November – unload barriers from PET wagon at Buttermarket
Friday – 29th November – big switch on – dress Buttermarket and grotto in the morning and and erect barriers and marshall traffic and pedestrians in the evening
Saturday – 30th November – take down Grotto
Monday – 2nd December – load barriers onto wagon

The safety barriers are provided free of charge by PET tool Hire with thanks to ASET

Drivers attempting to travel through Audlem should be prepared for delays between 18.00 and 19.00 and should also be aware that many children are around the centre of the village from 17.00 to 20.30.

If you would like to sponsor the light switch on please contact ADAS via email to adascontact@gmail.com or contact committee member.

In total around 340 hours of ADAS volunteer work goes into making the Big Switch On event happen. If you would like to volunteer please email adascontact@gmail.com or speak to a committee member.

Please be aware that during the Switch-on traffic is still flowing through the village so please ensure you are safely stood behind the safety barriers.