Exclusive by Alan Quick

YOUNG AND OLD ENCOURAGED TO DRESS UP WITH A MAGICAL THEME

CREDITON is gearing up for the start of Christmas celebrations in the town, with the date set for Saturday, November 25 when the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place.

This year there is a MAGICAL theme and the organising Christmas in Crediton committee is encouraging everyone, yes everyone, to dress up as their favourite magical character.

This could be Merlin, Harry Potter, the Snow Queen, Unicorns, Goblins, Elves, Pixies, Trolls and anything in between. The possibilities are endless!

The Children’s Fancy Dress Competition will be held at Crediton Methodist Church and there will be spot prizes for the best dressed adults.

This year there will not be a High Street road closure.

The event will be centred around the Town Square with entertainment, including live music, starting at 3pm and finishing at 6.30pm.

A fancy dress parade down Market Street will precede the Big Lights Switch-On on the Christmas Tree in the Square at 5pm.

Roads in the area, including North Street, Market Street and others, as well as the Market Street car park will be closed during the afternoon and until after the event ends. There will also be a parking suspension in the immediate area.

The popular Land Train will be running, providing trips around the town during the afternoon.

Winkleigh Morris will be dancing to entertain those who go along to events on the Town Square and there will also be appearances by Exeter Street Band, Amy Charles Dance Academy, Crediton Town Crier, the Chamber of Commerce Traders Race, Sandford Choir and a combined choir of pupils from Hayward’s School and Landscore School.

There will also be a guest appearance by none other than Father Christmas.

There will be food and drink available from stalls on the Square and a number of shops and businesses will be staying open late.

100 TREES

The town is already starting to look festive with 100 Christmas trees on shop and business fronts now in place and others including in the Town Square, at St Lawrence Green and three cross-street decorations due to be put in place soon.

The trees and decorations as well as those at St Lawrence Green are part of the Christmas in Crediton committee plans to brighten up the town for the festive season, making it a special time for the people of the town and to encourage everyone to shop locally.

The Christmas in Crediton committee is a sub-committee of Crediton Town Council, all volunteers, individuals and organisation representatives, which has held meetings regularly all year-long to plan the lights and town celebrations.

Crediton Town Council makes a financial contribution to the project and sponsorship also comes from a number of businesses in Crediton.

Main sponsors are Crediton Dairy, Mole Avon Trading Ltd, Create Storage, Yellow Mouse Studios Ltd, Hedgerow Print and Crediton Chamber of Commerce.

Many other businesses have made donations to the lights and project and individual helpers and volunteers have helped to make the Christmas project possible.

Electricity from a "green" provider for the lights for the main tree during the Christmas period is to generously be provided by The Green House.

Volunteers from Crediton Chamber of Commerce and Crediton Tesco put up the lights around the town, which will have electricity connected to them in the near future.

Crediton firefighters will also be attending with a fire engine, Crediton Guides will be attending and support will also be provided by Moto Velo.

FREE PARKING

Motorists will be pleased to hear that Mid Devon District Council has kindly agreed to free parking all day at the High Street (St Saviour’s Way) car park on Saturday, November 25.

The Rotary Clubs of Crediton, Lions Club of Crediton, Tesco Crediton staff and Crediton Air Cadets provide volunteer helpers to assist with the evening alongside volunteer individuals. Crediton Arts Centre is also actively involved in helping with the event.

Electrical works, much of it free of charge, is again being kindly supplied by Jo Ward of Crediton.

Crediton Scouts are due to lead the mini-parade of children in fancy dress down Market Street to the Town Square at about 4.30pm.

Following the Light Switch-On, local band "The Beatnxs" will entertain until 6.30pm.

• The "Crediton Courier" run Best Dressed Christmas Window or Business competition will this year have no theme to any window or business display. It is hoped this will give business or shop owners and staff more scope to decorate as desired. Competition details will be delivered to businesses in the very near future.