CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and excitement is building for the Christmas in Crediton events and Lights Switch-On on Saturday, November 26.

The Christmas in Crediton Sub-Committee of Crediton Town Council has been working hard on plans for the event, which will include some new events, activities and things to see.

This year there will be the fantastic band “Lost and Found”, Otter Morris with Morris dancing demonstrations, Punch and Judy shows and much more.

This year’s switch-on event will be centred around the Town Square with entertainment starting at 2pm and finishing at 6pm.

Prior to that a Festive Flag-Making Workshop will begin at 1.30pm in the Town Council offices.

Crediton Town Clerk Rachel Avery, on behalf of the Christmas in Crediton Sub-Committee explained: “There will be food and drinks stalls, live music, performances and a lantern parade before the switching on of the lights at 5pm.”

She continued: “This year the Town Council’s focus is lights!

“In addition to the existing trees and lights, there will be new cross-street decorations as well as new illuminated spheres lining the High Street.

“New this year is a ‘Find the Hidden Message Competition’.  This will start on the day of the Switch-On to encourage people to look in Crediton’s shops in the run-up to Christmas.  Look out for details of this soon.”

The programme for the afternoon includes:

2pm Otter Morris

2.20pm Punch and Judy

2.40pm Hayward’s and Landscore School Choirs

3.05pm The Turning Tides Project

3.30pm Punch and Judy

3.50pm Otter Morris

4.05pm Lost and Found

4.30pm Lantern Procession

4.45pm Parade begins

5pm Lights Switch-On

5.10pm Lost and Found

6pm end

Everyone will be invited to look out for some stilt walkers this year and, of course, there will be the return of Father Christmas.  We wonder where he will appear from this year!

The Christmas in Crediton committee arranges the town cross-street decorations, Christmas trees and stars on the front of shops and businesses and the tree and illuminations in the Town Square.  The committee also arranges the illuminations at the St Lawrence Green and some of the other areas of the town.

There will be new cross-street decorations this year in addition to the usual ones.

Generously, the Christmas in Crediton committee has been able to supply shops and businesses with free trees and star decorations for the High Street, Union Road, Town Square areas again this year.

The committee has been able to do this for many years to encourage people to shop in the High Street and other areas.

Previously it was £50 per business.  Some businesses do make contributions to the cost of this, it is not paid for

• Motorists are reminded that there will be a temporary prohibition of through traffic and parking in Market Street, Parliament Street and North Street from 12 noon to 7pm on Saturday, November 26 to enable the Christmas Lights Switch-On to take place.