Actor and singer Luke Evans is set to switch on the Christmas lights in Hay-on-Wye alongside the town’s soon-to-be-announced Citizen of the Year on Friday, November 29. This festive event will take place in Memorial Square from 5 PM to 7 PM, marking the opening of the Hay Festival Winter Weekend.
The free switch-on celebration is co-hosted by the Hay Town Council and Hay Chamber of Commerce. It will feature carol singing, food stalls, mulled wine, and various entertainment, setting the tone for the festival, which runs until December 1.
Luke Evans, renowned for his performances on stage and screen, will also attend the festival to promote his new memoir, Boy From the Valleys: My Unexpected Journey, during an event following the lights switch-on. The memoir offers an intimate look at his life, showcasing his resilience and journey towards finding identity and belonging.
“It’s time to sparkle, Hay-on-Wye! I’m honoured to be joining the town’s Citizen of the Year to switch on the Christmas lights at Hay Festival Winter Weekend,” Evans expressed. “When I was writing my memoir, I never imagined it would take me to one of the world’s most famous book festivals, and I can’t wait to meet readers there.”
Evans began his career in the West End, performing in iconic productions such as Rent, Miss Saigon, and Piaf. He has starred in popular films including Fast & Furious, The Hobbit, Dracula Untold, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. His television credits include roles in The Alienist and Nine Perfect Strangers.
In addition to his acting career, Evans is a recording artist, having released two studio albums, At Last and A Song For You, both of which reached the top five in the UK charts in 2022.
The Hay Festival Winter Weekend promises to be a vibrant year-end celebration from November 28 to December 1, featuring over 60 events with more than 70 acclaimed artists. Highlights will include discussions on new fiction and non-fiction, creative problem-solving sessions, and festive activities, including candle-lit storytelling, comedy, music, and workshops.
Notable guests at the festival include authors Ali Smith and Paula Hawkins, actors Rupert Everett and Paterson Joseph, broadcaster Carol Vorderman, and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, among others. Events will be held in a specially constructed 350-seater marquee at Hay Castle, along with other venues throughout the town, including St Mary’s Church and The Poetry Bookshop.
The festival’s bookshop will operate daily from 9 AM, featuring highlighted titles, gifts, and hosting book signings alongside a special display from festival partner Visit Seattle.
The weekend is partially funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, providing a boost to Hay-on-Wye’s independent shops and cafés, which will welcome festival-goers to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
For the first time, digital media partner TikTok will support the Hay Festival Winter Weekend, showcasing some of the UK’s top creators and fostering development opportunities for young creatives.
Julie Finch, Hay Festival Global CEO, stated, “New ideas, joy, and hope—what better ingredients for a year-end festival to wrap one year and help us spring into the next? We’ll offer a world of different experiences at Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2024, sharing a heady dose of entertainment alongside some bold visions for the future. Join us!”
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