If you strolled around the streets of Soho around Christmas time in recent years, you might have noticed some rather cute Christmas lights illuminating your route. For the past few years, Soho’s Christmas lights have cone courtesy of designs from pupils from the local Soho Parish Primary School.
The designs range from shooting stars to mince pies, a reindeer, a snowman, and even a festive crab (we love this so much). The Soho Christmas lights truly capture the fun, magical spirit of the season. Honestly, you can’t help but smile when you look at the designs. And this year, the adorable designs are back once again, with more new displays to light up the area with Christmassy cheer.
The lights are the result of a collaboration between Architecture for Kids and the school, with 2024 marking the fourth annual collaboration on the lights. This year over 100 primary school children submitted designs, of which six have been chosen to join the 49 from previous years. Those are pretty stiff odds, but we’re sure the winning budding artists are positively beaming with pride.
The artistic kids, aged 5 to 11, hand-drew their masterpieces, all themed around light, identity of place, and migration. The pupils used the architecture and heritage of their local communities to inspire their designs. The designs were then judged by a committee of local residents, business owners, architects, academics, and artists, as well as members of Westminster Council and the Assistant Headteacher of Soho Parish Primary School.
Said founder Antonio Capelao, from Architecture for Kids CIC:
“We’re so excited to produce the 4th annual edition of the Soho Kids Xmas Lights.
“The initiative aims to inspire a sense of agency and creative involvement in shaping the local legacy among schoolchildren.”
Now, excuse us while we go start a new tradition, inspired by the lights, and seek out a crab with a Santa hat…
⏰ This year’s Soho Christmas Lights will be on display from November 12, 2024, until January 5, 2025.