Mousehole Christmas Lights

What’s it all about?

The Christmas lights in Mousehole are a stunning sight, with floating displays of lights in the harbour and around the streets that are filled with the aroma of mulled wine and festive food. 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.

What happens?

The 2012 ‘switch-on’ will be held on Saturday 15th December at 7.30 pm. There will be the usual open-air Carolaire service at the entrance to the North Quay. The ‘Carolaire Choir’, comprising of the Mousehole Male Voice Choir, Members of the Mousehole Methodist Church and friends from the community together with the Pendeen Silver Band, will lead the community singing. This year the lights will be switched on by Mr. Roy Smith. If wet weather, the Carolaire service will be held in Mousehole Methodist Church.

The lights will then be on each evening between 5pm and 11pm until Friday 4th January 2013 (With the exception of 19th Dec, when the lights will be dimmed between 8-9pm). Please give generously to our collectors, as all money raised will fund the Christmas lights for the following year.

How can you take part?

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 6pm and 11pm every evening.  

Did you know?

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.