Our wonderful town of Hitchin is refusing to let Covid cancel Christmas!

The town's annual Christmas Tree Light Switch On is still scheduled to take place despite the pandemic.

Although Hitchin town centre boss Tom Hardy and his hard-working team have had to rethink the much-loved event this year, they have come up with an alternative event aimed at recognising and celebrating Hitchin's resilience and renowned community spirit.

Tom has also been busy braving Herts forests to secure a 30ft Norwegian Spruce for the town centre this year.

Tom said: "We will have Santa in the sleigh with the light switch on box traveling through the town with a carefully selected number of businesses carrying the Christmas tree star.

"The star will be passed from business to business along a specified route through the town, similar to the Olympic torch.

"Once it reaches the Christmas Tree in Market Place the last business will hand the star to our lighting contractor who will fix it to the top of the tree.

"While this is happening, Santa will go into the Church and push the switch down to turn the tree lights on."

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The event will be live streamed online for the public to view.

As the full route will be live streamed Tom and Hitchin BID are encouraging all businesses to support by standing outside their premises, while the sleigh and star passes through between 430pm and 530pm with a map of the route sent out beforehand.

See Hitchin Nub News next week for our UP CLOSE feature with Hitchin town centre boss Tom Hardy