The provisional date is:

Monday 20 December 7 - 8pm

See what happened last year.

The response to Sing Christmas 2009 has been overwhelming. Thousands of people sang along with the broadcast in around 100 venues and many have let us know how good it was. Here are just a few of the comments:

We had a really great night with Sing Christmas and fun was had by all. The pub was very crowded. People really seemed to enjoy it and there was a terrific atmosphere.     Elizabeth Cox at The Coach and Horses, Kibworth

Absolutely great!  Everyone said how much they’d enjoyed it.  The best one so far!  Think the mix of carols , readings, prayers etc is just about right.  Really happy and friendly atmosphere.  Everyone joined in with the singing.             Sally Tuckwell at Newbold Verdon Working Men’s Club   

We are a home which specialises in caring for people with dementia.   We invited relatives to join in with us.  All our residents really enjoyed the Sing Christmas.  They sang, they ate, they had a drink and the atmosphere was excellent.  We will certainly do it again in 2010.  Thank you.                       Monica Gardner, Hunters Lodge Retirement Home Ltd, Old Dalby

More singing this year excellent!  Good to have phone in. Very exciting waiting for our name to be read out! 30-40ish people.  Great atmosphere!  Warm and friendly.  Nice to remember Christmas for the real meaning.                        Penny Farnsworth, Market Harborough Conservative Club

See photos of Sing Christmas from Highcross Leicester, and some of the 100 venues across the region that joined in, on the BBC Radio Leicester photo gallery.

You can join in with Sing Christmas and sing along at a venue near you. Around 100 pubs, clubs, community centres and other venues will be tuning in and playing out the live broadcast for thousands of people to sing along. Find your local Sing Christmas venue or download the song sheet and join in at home.

Julian White of Leicester Tigers and England is reading part of the Christmas story in the Sing Christmas broadcast. Joining the audience at Highcross Leicester will be the Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Leicester and the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council.

BBC TV East Midlands presenter Des Coleman, who you may have seen on BBC1’s The One Show, features in this year’s line-up. Des and Lady Jennifer Gretton, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, tell the Christmas story. Members of the Rainbows Children’s Hospice Staff Choir lead the carols accompanied by the South Wigston Salvation Army Band. Children from the Orchard Primary School, Broughton Astley read the prayers. BBC Radio Leicester presenters say what Christmas means to them. Rev Dianne Tidball of the East Midland Baptist Association gives the Christmas Thought and Blessing … and we’ll be eating mincepies, pulling crackers and drinking a toast. All hosted by Sandra Herbert live on BBC Radio Leicester from Highcross Leicester.

Highcross Leicester has just been confirmed as the venue for the live Sing Christmas broadcast. A covered performance area will be erected in the centre of St Peter’s Square for the broadcast. Loudspeakers will relay the sound to enable shoppers to join in and sing along.

The Song Sheet everyone will need to sing along with the live broadcast is available to download and print. This year it is a smaller size to make it easier to use and there are also large print, plus giant print and Braille versions. See Resources.

To ensure you receive all the information you need and your venue is listed online as open to the public or not, register your venue here.

There will be 12 popular carols - 50% more than last year. These include Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, Mary’s Boy Child, Away in a Manger and O Little Town of Bethlehem.  Activities to join in are eating mincepies, pulling crackers and drinking a toast. Sandra Herbert will be the host and mention some of the venues taking part as we celebrate across the region. See the Running Order in Resources.

Resources for 2009 are now available including Notes for Venues, Posters and Invitations which you can personalise for your venue, and the Running Order.

The brewers Everards are encouraging all their pubs in the region to join in with Sing Christmas and are providing promotional support and ideas to create a Sing Christmas evening on Monday 21 December. Find your nearest Everards pub.

Join in the region’s big sing-along on Monday 21 December 7pm to 8pm. If you’re involved with a pub, club, community centre, care home or wherever people come together - plan to tune in and SING CHRISTMAS.  Churches are invited to help local venues take part.

Over 100 venues joined in with Sing Christmas last year:

“A great time. Singing and fun helped to lift the spirits.” The Beacon Inn, Loughborough.

“Residents, relatives and staff all joined in. Gave us the feelgood factor.” The Gables Care Home, Market Harborough.

“Much enjoyed at the Co-op. Great mix of ages. Sound quality excellent.” Glenfield Co-op.

See more news and the report on Sing Christmas 2008.