THE city is to be transformed into a winter wonderland as Salisbury Christmas Market returns for a fifth year.

A night of celebration is planned to mark the grand opening tonight (Thursday) from 5pm to 9pm.

The launch will feature a host of performers including Absolute Buble from 5pm, and Salisbury’s own Starcast will be on stage from 6.15 to 7.30pm with four performances from their singing and dancing company, singing troupe and dance crew.

On the night there will also be music from the Salisbury Plain Military Wives’ Choir.

This year’s headline act are CK Gospel Choir who bring together a fusion of gospel, jazz and blues to create rich, unique harmonies. They will be live in the Market Square from 7.45pm.

Acrobatic street performers, The Acrochaps, will be showcasing their skills from 5.30pm.

The Salisbury Christmas Market runs from November 24 until December 18. The Guildhall Square will be transformed by the 70 German-style chalets which will be home to more than 100 exhibitors over the three-week period.

The Christmas market runs from Monday-Wednesday: 10am-6pm; Thursday: 10am- 8pm; Friday-Saturday: 10am- 6.30pm, Sunday: 10am-4pm.

And next Thursday (December 1) the city streets will be filled with colourful lanterns as the annual lantern procession returns.

The procession will assemble at Salisbury Cathedral at 6.15pm before setting off at 6.45pm. It will be led by Salisbury FC’s Chalky the Panda and Kaya Drum and will make its way to the Market Square by 7.20pm to be entertained by Silversphere — an acrobat suspended beneath a silver helium balloon that rises, falls and glides overhead.

There will be a free lantern making workshop on Saturday (November 26) at Salisbury Arts Centre, 10am-3pm, in preparation for the procession.

Other events coming up over the Salisbury Christmas Market period include the life-sized snow globe attraction with Elsa from Frozen on December 4 and a new light installation by Kathy Hinde. The Luminous Birds will illuminate River Walk between Fisherton Street and Crane Street until December 16.

For more information about the Christmas market go to salisburychristmasmarket.co.uk.