Countdown has begun!

This Christmas festival and lights switch on includes stalls, face painting, a visit from Santa, dance performances and children’s funfair rides. The day starts at 3pm with the lights switch on at 6.15pm. there will be stalls, entertainment and activities, running from 9am to 7pm, with the lights switch on taking place on the main stage in front of Mirfield Co-op. Local bars and shops will be joining in the fun with festive cocktails and window decorations. Christmas, who will be meeting and chatting to families and kids. There will be brass band music and vocals from the Crow Lane Singers ahead of the lights switch on at 5pm. When: Saturday, December 1 Where: Marsden Mechanics Hall, Peel Street, Marsden, HD7 6BW There will be stalls and entertainment at the Mechanic’s Hall from 1pm to 5.30pm. Santa will be holding court in his grotto through that time as well ahead of the big switch on. MAJOR new exhibition of paintings by local artists opens tomorrow (Sat) at the Harrison Lord Gallery in Brighouse. The exhibition will showcase new work by Halifax artist Paul Dene Marlor, UK artist of the year 2015, Peter Brook, Matt Turner, Francesca Roberts, Mark Sofilas, and Stephen Todd.

Peter Brook fans can see some very rare signed prints as well as his popular range of limited edition prints.

The local Yorkshire landscape is the theme for most of the paintings but each artist takes a unique approach. Paul Dene Marlor uses watercolours to great effect in his Pennine hills and woods paintings.

Matt Turner has created some amazing Pennine snow scenes inspired by the recent hard winter whilst Stephen Todd’s paintings reflect on the Humber Estuary. Francesca Roberts depicts the Yorkshire Dales in Summer and Mark Sofilas finds inspiration in the local canals.

Gallery owner Steven Lord said: “It is amazing to see how top artists can interpret our wonderful Yorkshire landscape in so many excitingly different ways.

“This is a great opportunity to see over 40 new paintings by some of Yorkshire’s finest artists.”

The free exhibition runs until December 7.

In the run up to Christmas the Harrison Lord Gallery will hold another exhibition, opening on December 8, featuring Kate Lycett and Lucy Pittaway.

For more ring 01484 722462 or see www. harrisonlord.co.uk.