The festive countdown begins in Market Drayton today with the annual Festival of Lights and Christmas lights switch-on.
Hundreds of visitors are expected in the Town Square for the big switch on at 6.30pm by Market Drayton mayor Councillor Roy Aldcroft and town crier Geoff Russell.
The festival gets under way at 4pm with around 30 stalls provided by charities in the town which will be selling a variety of seasonal gifts and decorations. The stalls will be based in Cheshire Street where the event continues at 5.15pm when a free family puppet show featuring Mr Happity and Mrs Giggles takes place at the town library.
A Royal Irish Regiment piper from Tern Hill Barracks will then lead a procession at 5.45pm from Netto to the Town Square where the switch on will take place.
The procession will include children from Market Drayton’s Fairfields Estate who will be singing carols, with help from a group of guitarists.
This year’s event has been organised by the town council and the chairman of its Christmas Lights committee Councillor Val Taylor said: “We’ve had just over a month to put this on and people have been brilliant in coming forward to put on the stalls and help out. I’m delighted with the response from the people of Market Drayton who aren’t letting the switch on go ahead without a lot of effort from themselves.
“We want people to come along to the Festival of Lights because everything on the night is free, apart from the stalls and funfair in Queen Street.”
Councillor Taylor was joined by the mayor in thanking Muller Dairies for the donation of this year’s Christmas tree.
Councillor Aldcroft said: “Thanks to the generosity of Muller, we have a quite impressive tree to add to the display around the town which will be illuminated on Friday night.
“We’re hoping for a good turnout from families throughout the area and as in previous years, there’ll be Christmas carols sung to generate a nice atmosphere as the tree and the town are lit up.”
Cheshire Street will be closed today for the event from 4pm until 8pm, while High Street and part of Stafford Street will be closed between 5.30pm and 6.45pm.
