Four Christmas lights switch on events in Halesowen, Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Dudley will be getting residents in the festive mood, with markets, stalls and lots of fun, and Santa too.

Dudley Council is joining community and business groups this year to light up four of the borough’s towns.

The first event is in Halesowen on Saturday 19th November. The fun kicks off in the High Street and Somers Square from noon with a Christmas market and funfair. Black Country Radio will be broadcasting live and hosting entertainment on the main stage throughout the day. Paralympic tennis ace, Jordanne Whiley, will be doing the honour of switching on the lights at 5pm and Father Christmas will be dropping by.

Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd, better known as David Platt, will visit Stourbridge on Saturday December 3rd to light up the town at 5pm. From 10am there will be funfair rides on Market Street and live entertainment on stages in Crown Square and Fountain Square. The town is hosting the biggest ever Christmas craft market on the High Street and Coventry Street, with traders selling everything from Christmas decorations to festive sweets and stocking fillers.  Father Christmas will be in his grotto in the Ryemarket from 11am to 4pm.

Also on December 3rd, Brierley Hill will have plenty for people to do. From 11am to 2pm St Michael’s Church is hosting their Christmas tree festival and craft fayre. The Moor Centre will host a Teenage Market, where young people are hosting stalls selling a wide range of goods. Entertainers will be on stage throughout the day, including performances by Bromley Primary School and Brierley Hill Musical Theatre. Throughout the town there will be a trail in local businesses of handmade woollen sheep from the nativity story. A craft fair will be at Brierley Hill Civic Hall from 1 til 4pm and Father Christmas will be there in his grotto. A carol concert at the Civic Hall will start at 6pm. From 4.30pm Brierley Hill Musical Theatre will lead carols on the run up to the lights switch-on at 5pm by the Deputy Mayor and Father Christmas.

Dudley has a traditional Victorian Christmas planned for Saturday December 10th. On Stone Street Square the town's tree will be lit up at 4.45pm by Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Connie Talbot. Connie will arrive on a sleigh with Father Christmas, courtesy of Tipton Community Group and will perform on the main stage alongside choirs and gospel singers. In the run up to the event, shops throughout the town will be selling small wooden ornaments for people to write their own special Christmas memory messages for loved ones, which will be hung from the tree. From 11am Stone Street Square will be packed with 24 craft stalls, birds of prey, face-painters, a vintage musical organ, Dudley Zoo glass blowing and traditional food sellers. In Churchill Precinct, the Salvation Army will be holding a service at 11am and during the day singing carols as well as entertainment by jazz favourites the Red Hot Santa Band.

Councillor Mohammed Hanif, Mayor of Dudley, said:

“The local communities in our towns have embraced Christmas celebrations this year and the council is happy to be supporting them. There is something for everyone at each event and hopefully as they are spread across the borough people will be able to make it along to one near them.

“The communities have worked really hard to pull the lights switch-on events together and I hope people will show their support and go along and get in the festive spirit.”