Aldgate in Winter Festival returns for its eighth year!

Join us on Friday 6th December in Aldgate Square for a jam-packed evening of music, dance, light, and celebration.

This year will see the return of everyone’s favourites including the Lantern Parade, live performances on The Aldgate Stage, Community Feast, creative workshops and more. Find the full schedule of activities below!

View our full stage programme here.

Event Programme

Friday 6th December 2024 at 3:30-8:00pm
Aldgate Square

• Creative Workshops – 12:00-5:00pm
  Join us at St Botolph without Aldgate for free drop-in lantern making and postcard decorating workshops. Make your very own lantern for the lantern parade and help us light up the night sky.
• Music in Offices – 3:30pm
  A local organisation helping to build communities through musical workshops. We’ll be joined by local performers helping to spread joy through music and sound.
  
• Gonzalo Mateos – 3:50pm
  Award-winning magician, Gonzalo Mateos regularly features in magic galas, festivals and TV shows around the world. He’ll be entertaining the crowds with interactive magic and performance.
• Christmas Tree light switch on – 4:00pm
  This years’ annual Christmas tree will be switched on by local legend, Cllr Henry Jones. Make sure to join us for the countdown!
• The Aldgate School Choir – 4:05pm
  The talented choir from The Aldgate School will be entertaining the crowds with their take on some classic festive songs.
• Dubafrique – 4:25pm
  World class acrobats and drummers will bring the energy and showmanship to The Aldgate Stage as we build up to the Lantern Parade.
• Lantern Parade – 5:00-6:00pm
  It’s time for everyone’s favourite event! The Lantern Parade brings together the community and local schools to display handmade lanterns on the streets of Aldgate. Led by Drum Works, a sensational samba drum band, the parade will light up Aldgate with music, dance, and colour, encouraging the community to join in the celebrations along the way!
• Community Feast – 6:00-7:00pm
  Back by popular demand, the Community Feast offers up free meals to those attending the Aldgate in Winter Festival. Simply collect a voucher from festival staff, grab a hot meal from The Aldgate Tap and settle in for a night of performances on The Aldgate Stage.
• Sax In The City – 6:00pm
  Flying solo from the wonderful Sax Bandits, with whom he usually performs, Lewi Lewis shares the joy of sax with a variety of well-known songs across different genres on his
  alto saxophone. Providing a creative outlet, he enjoys performing and entertaining crowds with fun and uplifting melodies that you could sing and dance to.
• Dc² Entertainment and Dance Company – 6:20pm
  Get ready for an epic family-friendly show featuring dazzling LED dancers, a mesmerising mirror man and even a giant robot for added WOW factor! This energetic performance will keep the party going on The Aldgate Stage.
• Dabbers Bingo – 6:55pm 
  Bingo like you’ve never seen it before! Expect music, dance, fun, and lots of unique prizes to be won. This family-friendly show will have plenty of opportunities for crowd participation, too!
• LoveDance – 7:45pm
  The debut public performance from LoveDance – a local class for people of all ages and abilities – as they dance their choreographed routines to top chart hits

Get involved in the festival fun and keep up to date on the latest activities through our Instagram and TikTok channels: @AldgateConnect #AldgateinWinter

Find out more at aldgateconnect.london/aldgateinwinter

Festival FAQs

Looking to join us for the Aldgate in Winter Festival? Read our festival FAQs to help you prepare for the evening.