Gearing up for Christmas festivities

Plans are being drawn up for festive celebrations in Newtown in the lead up to Christmas, including food, music and entertainment, as well as competitions to entice shoppers and visitors into the town.

Newtown Town Council is organising a number of events, including the annual Christmas lights switch on, as well as a Christmas Shopping Challenge organised by Newtown Chamber of Commerce.

The Town Council has announced that the town centre Christmas lights will be officially switched on, combined with late night shopping, on Friday, 29th November. From 2pm in the afternoon until late there will be charity, food, drinks and craft stalls, before the Mayor of Newtown, Cllr Rina Clarke, officially switches the lights on with Father Christmas.

He will take up residence in Santa's Grotto during the evening and every Saturday until Christmas. Music will also be performed by local groups and bands, with Christmas carols around the Christmas tree at the end of Broad Street.

The day and evening will also include street entertainers and a fun fair.

On Saturday, 30th November between 9am and 5pm there wll be a Christmas market in town with local food and drink and craft producers. There will also be a town crier competition as well as street entertainers and music by local groups and bands.

A festive competition is also being organised by Newtown Chamber of Trade to entice shoppers into stores from the 30th November up until Christmas Eve.

A spokesperson said: "The challenge invites shoppers, in particular those with young families, to 'decorate a Christmas tree' by obtaining a pretty bauble sticker from each of the shops they visit.

"The Christmas tree will feature on the front cover of a local map which will feature all the independent businesses participating in the activity. When the tree is fully decorated and 10 bauble stickers have been collected from 10 of the participating shops, children are rewarded a 'Certificate of Completion' and a treat. The adults will also need to solve a puzzle to be entered into a draw for hampers containing gifts donated by the retailers."