ST AUSTELL is gearing up for its festive celebrations, with the big switch on of the Christmas lights taking place on Saturday, November 30, at 5pm.
Free entertainment and activities for children will be provided in Aylmer Square in the town centre on the day which is being organised by St Austell BID (Business Improvement District) and the White River Place shopping centre.
In December, there will be more Christmas shopping and family fun days held in the town centre.
Annette Miller, the St Austell BID manager, said: “Join us in St Austell town centre for our Christmas lights switch on November 30 and our Christmas shopping and family fun days on December 7, 14 and 21. There will be free entertainment on the stage and activities for children.”
On November 30, the first act due to take to the stage is the Sandy Hill Choir who will be performing from 11am to 11.30am. Next on the stage, at noon, will be the St Austell Town Band.
Later in the afternoon, Small Wonder will be on stage at 2pm, with Morpheus providing the entertainment from 4pm.
The countdown to the switch on of the Christmas lights will begin at 4.55pm. After the lights are turned on, Morpheus will provide more entertainment before the activities come to an end at 6pm.
There will be free rides for children and, between 1pm and 5pm, free face painting and balloon modelling will be offered.
To add to the festive atmosphere, there will be a Christmas street market and street entertainment, and Rewind Radio will be present.
An art exhibition will be mounted in the old Peacocks shop, while Christmas fun is promised at the Market House.
Holy Trinity Church will be staging a “Winter Wonderland” for a fourth year for children and families. There will be a winter trail at the church and visitors will have the chance to throw “snowballs” in a winter grotto and have their picture taken with Olaf.
The event in the church will also include Christmas craft making, games, a short Christmas film, and cakes and refreshments.
There will be free parking from noon in the Priory and White River Place car parks on November 30 and for the Christmas shopping and family fun days in December.
As part of the festive day on Saturday, December 7, dozens of Santas on motorbikes are due to arrive in Fore Street at around 3pm. The Santas will be taking part in the annual motorbike ride that raises money for Children’s Hospice South West which runs the Little Harbour hospice in St Austell.
Organisers say the programme for the switch on day on November 30 could be subject to change, particularly with regard to weather conditions.