This Thursday at 10:00 am, Apple will be celebrating the Grand Opening of the Apple Store, Highcross (Leicester). The Grand Opening will feature a sweepstake and a variety of presentations and workshops, all free of charge. As usual, the first 1,000 people through the doors on September 4 will receive a free Apple T-shirt.

But never mind the T-shirt, the Grand Opening Sweepstake is what you're there for. Hurry up and submit your entry (before 5.00 pm on Sunday, September 7) for a chance to win a Digital Lifestyle Collection that includes a 13-inch black MacBook and a silver 4GB iPod nano. From Apple's retail page,

Thursday, September 4, 2008

10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Apple Store, Highcross Grand Opening

The Apple Store, Highcross will open on Thursday September 4th at 10:00 am; and you're invited to help us celebrate. Join us for the Grand Opening and get the chance to win a Digital Lifestyle Collection that includes a black MacBook and a silver iPod nano. The first 1,000 people through the doors will receive a free Apple T-shirt.

The Highcross Grand Opening Sweepstake Terms and Conditions clearly say that “no purchase [is] necessary” for any of the above-mentioned giveaways. The prize draw is open to all UK residents aged 18 or over, except, of course, Apple UK Limited employees, as well as the staffers working for its affiliated companies, “their immediate families, or anyone professionally associated with this prize draw and their immediate families.” Also note that only one entry per person is allowed. More info on the terms and conditions for the Grand Opening Sweepstake is available here.

The Apple Store, Highcross is situated at Upper Mall, Highcross, Leicester, LE1 4FT. If you decide to come back to the store on September 8, you can attend an iWeb Workshop (and learn how to craft your own web site or blog), or an iPhone Workshop (and learn how to unlock the iPhone's full potential starting from the basic features).

The Highcross store is UK's 17th Apple Retail Store.