A variety of organisations are involved in the Christmas Cracker lights switch on event in Shrewsbury and it is set to be a lot of fun and full of entertainment.

Shrewsbury Town Council is working with partner agencies including Shop in the Loop, Shrewsbury Shopping Centres, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Market Hall, to kick-start the town’s festive season with a bang on November 21 2012. 

An evening of fun-filled entertainment for all the family is planned, which includes performances by brass bands, musical acts and choirs, the return of the popular lantern parade, and even a visit by Santa on his sleigh.

The event kicks off at 5pm with performances taking place across town in the Square, Darwin, Riverside and Pride Hill Shopping Centres and the Market Hall.

There will also be street entertainment on Pride Hill and the annual Tree of Light ceremony will take place at 7.30pm in the Darwin Centre.

Hundreds of people are expected to turn out for this year’s lantern parade, which will start from the Riverside Shopping Centre 6.30pm before heading out to Pride Hill, up Butcher Row, along Fish Street, to High Street and finally culminating in the Square at 7pm for the launch of the Christmas lights.

Shoppers can also pick up their exclusive loyalty card, which will be inside the official event programme, on the night for a chance to win a cracking Christmas. Simply collect six different date stamps whenever a purchase is made from participating retailers to enter the competition to win a huge sack full of goodies worth more than £1,000!

FREE Park & Ride and parking at St Julian’s Friars, Frankwell main long stay and Abbey Foregate long stay car parks after 4pm.

A FREE lantern-making workshop for people who want to take part in the parade on November 21 is being held this Saturday [NOV 17] from 11am until 4pm in the former Shoezone unit in Riverside Shopping Centre.

“Everyone has worked hard on pulling together a packed programme of entertainment for this year’s Christmas Cracker. Special thanks must go to the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres who have provided performance spaces, and a unit for the lantern workshop, and indeed to all our partners for working together to bring about this wonderful event.

“Don’t forget, as well as entertainment throughout the evening, shops will also be open late and there is free parking in the town centre from 4pm.”