Hackney’s festive light switch-on to mark the Christmas season – and for the first time ever the Jewish festival Hanukkah - takes place in Hackney Town Hall Square on December 2 from 4.30pm.
A specially-made 12ft menorah will be lit at sunset during a ceremony to mark the Jewish holiday, and will remain lit for eight days.
Festive activities and live music will follow, with the chance to keep warm with hot chocolate and mulled wine.
Later in the evening panto characters from Hackney Empire’s Aladdin will join the Speaker of Hackney Clare Potter, to turn on the Christmas lights.
There will be a sing-a-long to festive tunes, a steel pan band and a lantern display created by elders at St Joseph’s Hospice.
Christmas lights will be unveiled across the borough, which will see local markets like Ridley Road lit up over Christmas.
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