EXCITING plans to make a really special Christmas in Crediton have been announced by the Crediton Christmas Lights Working Group.

It has been decided to hold two Late Night Shopping Evenings, prior to Christmas 2013.

They will be held on Thursday, November 28 and Thursday, December 12.

Many shops and other traders will open late during both evenings and some businesses/offices etc will, where possible, also stay open, some inviting clients to enjoy celebrations.

On Thursday, November 28 there will be a parade from the St Lawrence Green to the Town Square.

The parade will feature music and people carrying the flags which were made for the Crediton Festival earlier this year.

It is hoped many people and groups will join the parade.

The High Street will be decorated with an impressive spread of 50 Christmas trees, with white lights, on shop and business fronts.

In addition, a cross-street decoration will be another feature in the High Street, which will be first cross-street Christmas decoration for many years.

After the parade there will be a Switch On Ceremony for lights on the Christmas Tree in the Town Square.

The 30ft high Christmas Tree will certainly have the "Wow" factor this year!

It will have 4,000 "twinkling" LED energy-saving lights and will certainly be a spectacle for all to see.

The lights will be switched on by the Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch and Radio Exe presenter, Ashley Jeary.

Father Christmas will be attending and giving away gifts to children.

After the parade and Lights Switch On, everyone will be encouraged to visit the shops and businesses.

On Thursday, December 12, the second Late Night Shopping Evening, it is hoped that buskers and musicians will visit shops and busk in the streets.

A competition for the Best Decorated Shop Window with a "Christmas" theme will be run by the Crediton Courier during the afternoon.

Judges will include David Fitzgerald from BBC Radio Devon. Fitz also intends to broadcast his radio show "live" from the town during the evening.

On Saturday, December 14, there will be the annual Fayre in the Square, from 2pm.

A free, family event to be held in the Old Town Hall, is also being organised by Natalia Letch, at a date to be announced.

The Courier will also be running advertising features ahead of each Late Night Shopping Evening.

Mid Devon District Councillor, Bob Wright, is proposing that Mid Devon District Council allows free parking in the town for the late night shopping evening and it is hoped that local councillors will back the proposal when it comes up for debate shortly.

Funding for the Christmas in Crediton celebrations and light project has come from Crediton Town Council, Mid Devon District Council (from the High Street Innovation Fund), Devon County Council (Cllr Nick Way's locality budget), Crediton Dairy and Graphic plc, as well as other town businesses and traders.

Businesses and individuals who wish to donate to the Lighting Appeal this year should contact the town clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, lead for the lights project, at: [email protected]">[email protected] .

The Crediton Christmas Lights Working Group is chaired by Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking and includes representatives from Crediton Arts Centre, traders, the town's two Rotary Clubs and individuals.

At Tuesday's Finance and General Purposes Committee of Crediton Town Council, Mrs Dalley was praised by councillors for getting the Christmas lights project to where it is now, in such a short time.

Cllr Letch added that he believed the celebrations this year were a chance to put Crediton "in the spotlight" and help Crediton traders by encouraging shopping locally.