Hundreds of Brummies gathered in Cathedral Square on Wednesday night (November 15) to watch the Christmas lights being switched on while enjoying live music and food.
The popular Pigeon in the Park pub also opened on Wednesday with numerous food stalls also serving festive treats. The food and gift stalls feature local artisans and restaurants including Gaucho and Chatty Patty and there also a number of gift and jewellery stalls in the Square for people to visit.
The market sits alongside the popular Frankfurt Christmas Market in Victoria Square and along New Street, and the Ice rink in Centenary Square, which opened last week.
The festivities got underway at around 6pm with live music from local artists playing Christmas classics such as Santa Baby. After guest appearances on the band stand from Birmingham Children’s Hospital mascot Bertie, CBeebies presenter Nisha Anil, and chef and restaurateur Glynn Purnell, the lights were switched on following a 10-second countdown.
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Maureen Cornish, along with her Consort Malcolm Cornish, and Deputy Chair of Colmore BID, Alex Tross, also joined residents to begin the countdown to the festive season.
Over the next couple of hours locals enjoyed the selection of pop-up food and drinks vendors while listening to some more Christmas classics from the bandstand musicians.
Here are a few photos from the event:
1. The Christmas tree lights were switched on at around 7pm
2. A pizza food stall on hand in Cathedral Square. It's one of many food vendors at the market this year
3. The popular Helter Skelter ride has also returned to the market this year
4. The Pigeon in the Park pub was packed on night one of the Cathedral Square market