Ipswich town centre is getting a Christmas campaign built around light, with a brand-new lantern parade, more than 120 events in one guide and a digital advent calendar with prizes to win. Ipswich Central, the Business Improvement District for the town, has launched Follow the Stars. It describes it as its biggest and brightest Christmas campaign yet, and it wants residents, visitors and businesses to take part.
A lantern parade with a 13-foot sea giant
The new highlight for 2026 is the Lantern Parade, which sets off at 6pm on Saturday 19 December. Hundreds of people will carry hand-crafted lanterns from DanceEast on the Ipswich Waterfront to The Cornhill. Ipswich Central says the parade will bring spectacle, light and music to the town, and give a boost to local shops, restaurants and pubs.
Leading the way will be Eko the Sea Giant, a 13-foot-tall puppet operated by a team of performers from Autin Dance Theatre. Eko will also give two other performances earlier that day, one in the town centre and one on the Waterfront. You can catch the puppet while you do your Christmas shopping, then follow it in the evening.
You don’t need to be an expert crafter to join in. Free lantern-making workshops will run at several venues, including AMPP studios, a local pub and DanceEast. A guide to making a lantern at home will also be released. Details of the workshops will be shared on the All About Ipswich website.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to bring dance out of the Jerwood DanceHouse, and to give people the chance to see live performances on their streets as they go about their festive celebrations.” – Tom Bowes, Head of Creative Programmes, DanceEast
Lights, guides and prizes
The campaign starts with the Christmas Light Switch-on on Sunday 15 November. The Mayor of Ipswich, Pat Bruce-Browne, will switch on the lights at around 6:45pm. On stage with the Mayor will be Gary O’Neil, manager of Ipswich Town Football Club, and club chairman Mark Ashton. The club has sponsored the Christmas tree this year. Ashton said the club is proud of its town and is pleased to be involved, and he looks forward to seeing people there.
If you’re wondering what else is on, there is now one place to look. More than 120 events have been collected into a Christmas What’s On guide on the All About Ipswich website. A free printed version will be available in dozens of venues across the town.
The digital advent calendar is back too, and Ipswich Central calls it the town’s biggest yet. Local businesses have donated the prizes, which include vouchers, football shirts and spa days. Last year’s calendar attracted more than 10,000 entries.
Ipswich Central says the campaign is meant for everyone, whether you run a business in the town centre, live on the outskirts or are choosing Ipswich as your Christmas destination. Chief executive Lee Walker put it this way:
“This is an incredibly ambitious campaign that showcases the best of Ipswich, and I am so proud to be working closely with businesses to make it happen.”
Ipswich Central also thanks its partners on the campaign, including Ipswich Borough Council, Ipswich Town Football Club and DanceEast.
Key details
- Christmas Light Switch-on: Sunday 15 November, with the lights switched on at around 6:45pm.
- Lantern Parade: 6pm on Saturday 19 December, from DanceEast on the Ipswich Waterfront to The Cornhill.
- Eko the Sea Giant: two further performances earlier on 19 December, one in the town centre and one on the Waterfront.
- Lantern-making workshops: free, at venues including AMPP studios, a local pub and DanceEast.
- Christmas What’s On guide: more than 120 events online, plus a free printed guide in dozens of venues.
For the What’s On guide, the digital advent calendar and workshop details as they’re announced, visit allaboutipswich.com/christmas. Media enquiries and sign-up information requests can go to Oli Picton, Communications Manager, at oli@locusms.com.
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