CREDITON is gearing up for a bumper event to mark Christmas.

On Saturday, November 30 the Town Light Switch-On event will take place but new this year will be more food stalls, and more entertainment than ever before.

The event will begin at 1pm and run to 6pm with the Lights Switch-On at 5pm.

Santa will be there in his free grotto near the free children’s activities.

There will be a much-improved sound system that will play music around the Town Square and along the High Street.

The stage will be much bigger this year as well and the hugely-popular band Beatnix will perform before and after the lights are switched on.

Rob Pudner of Entertainingly Different will be attending as Jack Frost with his snow machine, there will be free music sessions from Jam Babies in the square and there will be the lantern parade which will take a new route this year.

Children are encouraged to go along and spot their lantern and carry it in the parade or they can bring a torch or one of their own lanterns.

All children are invited to take part in the lantern parade.

School choirs will be performing during the afternoon, which is always popular.

There will be two bars and the increase in food stalls includes street food, Polish street food, vegan food, Gin, Beer, fudge, craft stalls, cakes, Gelato (not ice cream!) and so much more.

The giant Christmas Tree, this year sponsored by Ernest Jackson, will be in place in the next few weeks, to be ready for the Switch On.

Lighting will start to go up around the town soon with the electricians ready to start at the St Lawrence Green.

The Town Council is running a Children’s Christmas Card competition and entries can be made online or during the day in Crediton Town Square.

Entry forms can also be obtained from Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking at the next Farmer’s Market.

Forms are also being delivered to some local schools.There will be two age groups.

There will be a Chidlren’s Competition, a Star Hunt during the afternoon on November 30.Forms will be available from Santa’s Grotto.

Jo Davey, on behalf of Crediton Town Council, said: “This year will be slightly different.The Christmas in Crediton event will be longer, louder, with more to see, do and eat than ever before.

“We have some fantastic entertainment, the Parade starting in North Street because we will have stalls in Market Street.”

Jo thanked the sponsors, Crediton Dairy, Ernest Jackson and Hedgerow Print as well as other town businesses for their support.These include Adams Home Hardware, Helmores, Hotchkiss Warburton, Nikki Blanchford, Revive, The Ship Hotel and Crediton Chamber of Commerce as well as Crediton Town Council.