Sheffield Retro: The story of Meadowhall’s beloved Christmas celebrations – from Louis Walsh to Martin Kemp

By Gbam Godwin On Nov 25, 2025

Sheffield Retro: The story of Meadowhall’s beloved Christmas celebrations – from Louis Walsh to Martin Kemp.

Generations of people have basked in Meadowhall’s dazzling Christmas lights over the years.

Meadowhall shopping mall opened for the first time on September 4, 1990, attracting thousands of shoppers to what would become a regional retail powerhouse.

It transformed the face of South Yorkshire, becoming one of the county’s most popular commercial areas and growing to include restaurants, a cinema, and even a train and bus station.

Love Sheffield? You will enjoy our daily newsletter… Packed with the most recent news, sports, lifestyle, upcoming events, and much more.

Major warehouse fire rips through Southall in London

Nov 25, 2025

Several tents set up on Brighton seafront near the i360

Nov 25, 2025

Bognor: Man seriously injured in stabbing at railway station

Nov 25, 2025

With such a stunning setting, it has served as the backdrop for innumerable Christmas festivities over the years.

Over the years, the retail centre has hosted throngs eager to see the Christmas lights turned on, and more recently, Santa Claus himself has been invited to perform parades through the mall’s corridors.

Aside from the big guy in red, celebrities such as X Factor’s Louis Walsh and rapper Professor Green have been out to aid with the festivities.

The late, great Dale Winton, host of Supermarket Sweep, turned on the lights for cheering crowds in 2001, while popstar Alexa Goddard performed in the mall’s heart in 2014.

All of this pales in contrast to the animatronic bears, one of Meadowhall’s most popular Christmas decorations, which many still want to see return today.

Take a walk down a snowy memory lane and enjoy Christmas at Meadowhall over the years.