Highcross delivers Christmas cheer as LOROS families enjoy an exclusive preview of Leicester’s Sweetest Show

Highcross Leicester kicked off the festive season in heartwarming style this weekend by welcoming families supported by local charity, LOROS Hospice, to an exclusive first performance of its brand-new pop-up pantomime, Santa’s Secret Workshop.

Before the curtain rose for first performance at the weekend, children from the LOROS CHANCE Club – a special after-school group for bereaved young people – enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Highcross, followed by a meet-and-greet with Santa himself. This special event formed part of Highcross’s ongoing partnership with LOROS, the centre’s chosen charity of the year, and reflected its continued commitment to supporting the local community.

The special preview marked the start of the show’s five-week run.

Open from 22nd November to 20th December, free 20-minute shows take place twice every hour, inviting visitors to join Santa’s elves on a fun-filled mission to fix a candy cane mix-up and save Christmas cheer.

Hosted on the upper mall, this show promises plenty of laughter, music and Christmas magic, with audience participation at the heart of the fun.

Santa’s Secret Workshop: A Pop-Up Panto is the centrepiece of this year’s festive celebrations at Highcross, featuring all the beloved traditions of a classic pantomime, including catchy songs and lively storytelling.

To help spread even more Christmas cheer, shoppers and visitors attending Santa’s Secret Workshop are encouraged to support LOROS via a tap-and-go donation station, located at the pop-up panto entrance. All donations will go directly towards LOROS projects, including paying for all the hospice patients to have a special celebratory Christmas dinner surrounded by their friends and relatives.

Speaking about the special preview event, Michelle Menezes, Centre Director at Highcross Leicester, said: “It was a joy to see so many smiles during the opening performance of our pantomime, and having LOROS families with us made it even more meaningful. This show is all about welcoming and celebrating the Christmas spirit through togetherness and kindness, so it was really fantastic to see it come to life with audience interaction and the children’s laughter.”

Alongside the panto, Highcross also introduced its very first Festive Food Fayre, now open in St Peter’s Square, showcasing a variety of Christmas delicacies and festive treats.

Michelle added: “This year’s Christmas season feels extra special for us. It’s been such a rewarding year, and we wanted to offer our visitors something truly memorable. With our very first free panto accompanying our very first food fayre, there’s so much festive fun to experience at Highcross this year.”

Camilla Barrow, interim CEO for LOROS Hospice, said: “We are hugely grateful to Highcross for generously providing this opportunity. Our CHANCE Club is a safe, supportive space filled with fun, laughter, and friendship, and it’s wonderful for the young people to share experiences like this together, helping them build confidence and a sense of connection.

Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for anyone who has lost someone they love, especially children, so this treat couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re proud to have Highcross as a valued partner of LOROS Hospice.”

No pre-booking is required for Santa’s Secret Workshop performances – 15 shows will be running each day, from 11am until 7pm on the 22nd and 29th November, and on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 23rd December, with the last queue entry at 5pm. Highcross will also be hosting SENS-friendly performances 11am – 12pm on the first three Saturdays in December (6th, 13th, 20th).

This year, the centre’s decorations also follow on the vibrant “Candy Land” theme of the panto, creating a sweet and whimsical backdrop of Leicester’s Christmas celebrations.

Throughout the festive period, visitors can also look forward to live performances from local performers, including the LOROS Choir and the Salvation Army Band.