Lighting up times for Christmas

THE countdown to Christmas gets underway as early as this weekend.

Here at the Examiner we’ve compiled a guide to dates and details of Christmas Light Switchons in and around Huddersfield.

If there are others then please email the date, time and details to joanne.douglas@examiner.co.uk and it will be added to our guide.

Christmas Light Switch-on and Victorian Christmas Festival: at Cleckheaton Town Hall, Market Street and Savoy Square.

The market begins at 9am with over 75 stalls of foods, seasonal gift ideas, toys, jewellery, Christmas cards and festive decorations.

There’s themed street entertainers, a fairground, and Savoy Square will play host to Punch and Judy show. Entertainment includes a traditional brass band and street entertainers throughout.

The lights switch on is at 5pm. festive food and drink, and the traditional brass band procession through the village.

Main event is in Honley Park with fairground rides and live entertainment from local groups and musicians from 3pm through to 7.30pm.

The traditional Christmas parade begins outside St Mary’s Church at 6.15pm where the Yorkshire Traction Honley Band will lead the procession, including Santa on his sleigh.

They will proceed down Church Street, along Westgate and into Honley Park, where the lights switch-on will take place at 7pm.

From 4pm, outside the Shoulder of Mutton pub.

There will be events around the village all day, then the community can gather at the big tree on Church Street from 4pm for the switch-on at 5pm with fireworks and a visit from Father Christmas.

From 2pm-4pm there will be a Santa’s Grotto at the bus station; from 4.30pm there’s a lantern parade from the Methodist Church followed by the Switch-On; then from 5pm onwards there’s entertainment around the bus station.

The Victorian Christmas Festival is on Saturday and Sunday, November 25 and 26.

There’s a Christmas Market of over 80 stalls full of locally-produced foods and crafts.

Saturday’s Market will draw to a close with a visit by Father Christmas in a horse-drawn carriage pulled by two shire horses from 4pm.

On the Sunday there’s a Christmas Service conducted by members of local churches and community Carol singing.

Halifax Christmas Lights Switch-On is at 5.30pm on Russell Street/ Woolshops.

The event runs from 2pm-6pm with entertainment on stage from 4pm. Stilt walkers and fire breathers can be found at Woolshops Shopping Centre, face painters and balloon modellers in Halifax Borough Market and entertainers across the town centre.

Mirfield Christmas Lights Switch-On and High Street Festival 2017.

From 12noon-6pm with live entertainment, a family funfair, donkey rides, festive food and craft stalls.

The fun fair is in the library car park and runs from midday, at 2pm there’s the Christmas window display competition and live music begins. The Food and Craft market runs from 3pm in the Co-op car park, followed by the lights being switched on.

Christmas Lights Switch-On events begin from midday.

There will be events throughout the village, and the community can gather at the Mechanics Hall for the lights to be officially switched on. Time TBC.

Meltham Christmas Lights switch-on is at Robert Ashton Memorial Park, 5pm onwards.

In a break of tradition, this year the Christmas Light Switch-on will be held as part of the Meltham Carols in the Park event at The Robert Ashton Memorial Park.

Join hundreds of others for a moment of reflection by candlelight in the park and sing carols and hymns in the park.

Late night Christmas shopping in Lindley, where the shops will host special events and the lights will be turned on. Time TBC.