Up to 1,000 hearty Welshpool and area residents will brave the weather tonight as the town switches on its Christmas lights to officially launch the Festive season.
Santa Claus and Town Mayor, Cllr Estelle Bleivas, will be joined by a four year-old from Oldford Nursery and Infant School to switch on the lights at the Town Hall. The youngster will be chosen through a draw at the school.
The fun starts at 6.50pm when the Christmas parade lead by the Newtown Minstrels and Santa Claus departs the Tourist Information Centre for the Town Hall where, at 7pm, Santa will have a walkabout among the crowd before retiring to the Market Village where, from 7.15pm, he will be available to meet the children free of charge.
While this is happening, the Corn Exchange will be open for a Community Table Top Sale where visitors can buy small gifts and crafts and help local charities and organisations. Mince pies and coffees will also be served.
Celebrations continue on Saturday with the Welshpool Winter Festival day including the Street Market and the Craft Fair at the Town Hall between 10am and 5pm.
Broad Street and High Street (from Jehu Road down to the Town Hall) will be closed to traffic in order to pedestrianise the area. The Town Council requests that, in order to accommodate the market stalls, vehicles are not parked along Broad Street or High Street between 6am and 6pm.
There will be street entertainers, vintage cars on display, and stalls by local charities and businesses, among other attractions. The Tourist Information Centre will be offering a present wrapping service for any gift purchased there, and there will be a free mince pie with any hot drink bought.
The Powys Montgomery Federation of Women’s Institutes will have their office open at the town’s historic Cockpit off Broad Street between 10am and 4pm where they will offer teas and coffees as well as the chance to have a look around the restoration.
The festivities continue into Sunday at the Town Hall Market Village with the chance to join in Christmas Carols around the Christmas Tree, from 3pm. Another visit is expected from Father Christmas and there will be coffee and mince pies served afterwards in the Corn Exchange.
PICTURE: Guilsfield children pay tribute to the successful 2022 Qatar World Cup bid! Have you got some amusing snow pics? Send them to editor@mywelshpool.co.uk