Town is set to sparkle

Cromer is getting ready to be lit up for the festive season, with the grand Christmas lights switch-on and the traditional New Year’s Day fireworks display all ready to go.

The Christmas lights, which have been put up around the town, will be switched on on Saturday, December 7.

The proud moment will be the highlight of a day which begins at 10am with festive stalls in the parish hall and goes on to include Santa touring the town from 11am before settling down in his grotto in the community centre, where he will be from noon until 3.30pm.

There will also be entertainment inside the church, with school choirs performing at 2.30pm and the Christmas Tree Festival from 10am until 5pm.

The trees will have been there all week, so if you read this early, you can go along from 10am until 4.30pm every day.

At 4.20pm, the torchlight procession will leave North Lodge Park and – led by the mayor and Father Christmas – will wind its way through town to the churchyard, where there will be carols from 4.40pm ahead of the grand switch-on at 5pm.

Torches are on sale in the parish hall if you’d like to carry one and join in with the procession.

They’re getting ready to light the blue touch paper for our famous New Year’s Day fireworks display.

The event, which draws thousands of people to the town, will kick 2025 off in exciting style, with whooshes, bangs and sparkles above the pier.

The fun goes on all day, with the North Norfolk Beach Runners’ family fun run setting off from the promenade at 3pm (you can register at the pier forecourt from 2.30pm).

And as it starts to get dark, a torchlight procession will set off from the churchyard at 4.30pm.

You can buy torches for £3 from outside the museum (between 2pm and 4pm), and as well as being part of the procession, torchbearers have access to the vantage point on the slope above the pier so they get the best view.

The first firework goes up at 5pm and many shops, pubs and cafés will be open, with special events all around the town throughout the day and into the evening.