YOUNG AND OLD ENCOURAGED TO DRESS UP WITH A WINTER WONDERLAND THEME

CREDITON is gearing up for the start of Christmas celebrations in the town, with the date set for Saturday, November 24 when the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place.

This year there is a WINTER WONDERLAND theme and the organising Christmas in Crediton committee is encouraging everyone, young and old, to dress up.

The Children’s Fancy Dress Competition judging will be held at The Old Town Hall promptly from 4pm.

This year, as last 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 2.45pm and finishing at 6pm.

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, Crediton Town Crier, the Chamber of Commerce Traders Race, The Turning Tides Band 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.

120 TREES AND STARS

The town is already starting to look festive with more than 120 Christmas trees and stars 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 significant 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.

Crediton firefighters will also be attending with a fire engine, Crediton Guides, Scouts and Brownies will be attending.

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 24.

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 4.45pm. It will include music by Exeter Street Band.

Following the Lights Switch-On by the overall Children’s Fancy Dress Competition winners, local band “LOSt COYOTES” will entertain until 6pm.

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

ELF HUNT

Saturday, November 24 will also see the launch of a treasure hunt with a twist, an Augmented Reality Elf Hunt!

Augmented Reality appeared at the 2017 Lights Switch-on event. Christmassy themed images around the town square could be viewed using a hand-held device, such as a smartphone or tablet. And, hey presto! The images came to life as Christmas animations.

Anyone can enter this year’s competition.

Hunt the elf by using a hand-held device to follow augmented reality clues. The first clue will be revealed in the Town Square on November 24.

Once you’ve followed the trail and found the naughty elf in his hiding place, take a “selfie with the elfie”. Load it up to the Christmas in Crediton “Facebook” page and you will have a chance of winning the first prize of £350 in Crediton Shopping Vouchers.

Thanks go to Crediton Chamber of Commerce for generously providing them and the second and third prize vouchers of £100 and £50 respectively.

On Christmas Eve the best selfies will be picked and the winners announced on the Christmas in Crediton “Facebook” page.

To take part in the Elf Hunt you will need to download the Zappar app from the App Store or Google Play. Once downloaded, simply open the app, zap the image on the Town Square Christmas Tree, and follow the clues.

WINDOW COMPETITION

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.

The competition will have a different format this year and will be judged on the number of “Courier” readers votes returned.

The competition will run from Friday, December 7 to noon on Monday, December 17.

Shopkeepers and businesses will be asked to decorate their premises during this period.