YOUNG AND OLD ENCOURAGED TO WEAR A MASK

CREDITON is gearing up for the start of Christmas celebrations in the town, with the date set for Saturday, November 23 when the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place.

This year the theme is “Maskerade” and the Christmas in Crediton committee is encouraging everyone, young and old, to wear a mask for the Masked Parade.

Entertainment will start in the Town Square at 3pm with choirs from our local primary schools and music and dance from local groups.

The ever-popular land train will return to give rides up and down the High Street.

Children, mums and dads, and the whole family is invited to make, create, decorate and take along a mask to wear in the Masked Parade.

It can be any kind of mask imaginable. Children can enter the Mask Competition, which will take place promptly at 4pm in Crediton Methodist Church.

Children can dress up as well, but only the masks will be judged. Prizes have been donated by Crediton Tesco.

Children who have not made a mask before the day can make one on the Town Square between 3pm and 4.30pm.

Market Street is the assembly point for the Masked Parade down Market Street at about 4.45pm, arriving in the Town Square for the Lights Switch-On of the lights on the big tree at 5pm.

The fun will continue in the Town Square until 6.30pm, along with the train rides.

Food and drink stalls will be serving throughout the afternoon and early evening.

EXTRA LIGHTS

There will be extra Christmas lights at The Green this year and more decorations and trees than ever down the High Street

This year, as last year, there will not be a High Street road closure, the event centred around the Town Square.

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

MORE THAN 130 TREES AND STARS

The town will see more than 130 Christmas trees and stars on shop and business fronts and there will be three cross-street decorations.

Illuminations in the High Street will kindly be put up by members of the Rotary Club of Crediton Boniface.

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

Main sponsors are Crediton Dairy, Create Storage and Hedgerow Print. Many other businesses have made donations to the lights and project and individual helpers and volunteers have helped to make the Christmas project possible.

Volunteers from The Rotary Clubs of Crediton are helping to put up the large tree in the Town Square, which is being supplied by Roger Lee of Dowrich Farm. Electrical works, much of it free-of-charge, is again being kindly supplied by Jo Ward of Crediton.

Chairman of the Christmas in Crediton committee, Liz Brookes-Hocking, will lead the proceedings and event manager is Clare Dalley, Town Clerk.

Thousands of people attended last year’s Lights. Switch-On and took part in the countdown before the lights went on.

More community events will follow in Crediton including the Christmas Tree Festival at Crediton Parish Church from December 4 to 8 and the Community Carol Sing with Crediton Town Band in the Town Square from 7pm on December 23.

• Christmas in Crediton features will run in the “Crediton Courier” on November 15 and 29.