Get set for Christmas!

Welshpool will officially launch Christmas with a switching on of the lights on Friday, December 4 at the Town Hall.

Victory Queen, Sara Smith, has the honour of flicking the switch with the fun getting underway from 6:30pm, with the judging of the fancy dress competition at the Tourist Information Centre.

First and second prizes will be awarded for each of the three categories (Primary School, High school and adult category). All welcome to enter.

The Procession will leave the Tourist Information Centre at 6:45pm, led by the Newtown Youth Band. The procession will include ‘Father Christmas and his elves’, ‘Olaf’, Sara and the Mayor.

At 7pm, the procession will arrive at the Town Hall, where the crowds can enjoy a special new addition to this year’s event ‘The Greenhous Effect’ (sponsored by Greenhous Ford), which is not to be missed! Sara will then hit the switch to light up the town.

Following the switching on, Father Christmas will be in his grotto located in the Town Hall, where children can visit for free.

Throughout the evening in the Corn Exchange there will be a Community table top sale, tea and coffee served by the Air Cadets and a Mayor’s Raffle with proceeds to Hope House, Wales Air Ambulance and World Wildlife Fund.

And that’s just to start, the following day, the Winter Festival will take place from 10am to 4pm with street, craft and charity stalls, entertainers, festive cartoons and more.

Entertainment on the day includes festive cartoons playing in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall throughout the day; Welshpool’s Carnival Committee offering a taste of what to expect from this year’s Mardi Gras themed carnival in the Court Room of the Town Hall; Shop Window Letter Hunt where participants can pick up a clue card from the indoor market, locate all the letters around the town, and return to the Market with the word correctly identified to collect their prize.

On the street keep a look out for Sylvesta the Jester, Melomanics Ceilidh band, Father Christmas, Olaf the snowman and a performance from the Montgomeryshire Youth Theatre.

Puzzle Square in Welshpool will host performances from local musicians throughout the day, as well as carols by their Christmas tree at 3pm.

It is all completely free as well so Merry Christmas!