Mousehole Christmas Lights

About

The Christmas lights in Mousehole are a stunning sight, with floating displays of lights in the harbour and around the streets.

The 2011 ‘switch-on’ will be held on Saturday 17th December at 7.30pm. During the switch on of the lights, there is open-air Carolaire service at the entrance to the North Quay in the village where community singing will be led by the ‘Carolaire Choir’, comprising of the Mousehole Male Voice Choir and members of the Mousehole Methodist Church and friends from the local area with musical accompaniment provided by Pendeen Silver Band. The Carolaire service takes between 20 – 30 minutes depending on the weather.

If you are planning a visit to Mousehole to see the Christmas Lights, then be prepared as parking is very limited. You may have to park on the outskirts of the village and walk in. For nearly three weeks the famous lights are illuminated between 5pm and 11pm every evening when you’ll see a fantastic display of sea serpents, fishing boats and whales colourfully lighting up one of Cornwall’s most welcoming harbours. Centrepiece is the millennium Celtic cross on St Clement Island, powered ever so greenly by a wind generator. The village is ablaze with colour whilst the lights are on and to really appreciate the displays, walk around the narrow streets and follow the winding strings of lanterns as they disappear around the corner into yet another street barely wide enough to walk through. Have a browse around the local gift shops and stop for a meal and a drink in one of village restaurants, cafes or pubs.

On 19 December, the lights will be switched off from 8pm to 9pm, in remembrance of the loss of the crews of the Solomon Browne lifeboat & Union Star coaster in 1981.

The Christmas lights were started in 1963 by Mousehole-based artist, Joan Gillchrest. A string of coloured bulbs were put along both quays to make the village a bit brighter at Christmas time. The largest set piece is the 'Merry Christmas / Happy New Year' which is approximately 160ft (50m) long x 20ft (6m) high and contains nearly 1000 bulbs.

The event is free of charge, but please give generously to the official collectors who raise money to fund the Christmas lights for the following year.