THE countdown to Christmas in Salisbury will officially begin on Thursday, November 22 at 6pm in the Market Place, Salisbury with Salisbury City Council’s annual lights switch on event.

St Thomas’s Church will be a hosting Christmas craft-making workshop in church from 4pm, followed by the serving of hot dogs at 4.30pm and the official Christmas Service for the city at 6pm.

The main event in the Market Place starts at 6pm with presenters from BBC Wiltshire’s Breakfast Show who will welcome to the stage local band These Days who entertained the crowds this year at the Olympic Torch Event in July.

Spire FM will then showcase the winner of their local talent competition, Search for a Star, which has been run in association with East Farm Christmas.

There will also be a short blessing by Salisbury Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer Sarah Mullally followed by mayor John Collier.

Father Christmas and friends will make a short stop in the city to count down to the official switch on followed by a firework display.

Lastly local band Innervision will finish off the evening with a range of live music from the 70s through to recent chart hits and maybe even a festive number or two.

City council business manager Claire Burden said: “This event is a great way to kick off the festive season in style here in the City. Thousands of people come along, get into the festive spirit and have a great time and this year we hope will be better than ever. I look forward to seeing everyone dancing in the Market Place and don’t forget to say hello to Father Christmas.”

For more details go to christmasinsalisbury.co.uk.