The annual Christmas lights switch-on, one of the biggest events in the Altrincham calendar, will take place this Saturday.
The event is being held in association with Hits Radio and will take place in Stamford Square at the bottom of George Street.
The festive build-up to the switch-on of the lights will start at midday with local schools, choirs, theatre groups and singers, all taking to the stage.
Those taking part include Broadheath Primary School, Navigation Primary School and Altrincham CofE Primary School and Onyx Dance, and local singing sensation Amanda Heywood will headline the warm-up show.
Then from 4.30pm, Hits Radio’s Wes Butters will present a star-packed show headlined by singer Gareth Gates and also featuring Coronation Street’s Cath Tyldesley, internet star Braydon Bent and CBeebies’ Sid Sloane.
The Christmas lights will officially be switched on at 5.15pm.
The day also means the return of Santa’s Grotto, a free event in conjunction with Altrincham Rotary Club, that will take place in different locations around the town every Saturday up to and including December 15th.
You will be able to visit Santa in Rackhams this Saturday from 11am to 4pm, in Wilko’s next weekend, Ivy league the Saturday after, House Restaurant and Bar the weekend after and in The Old Post Rooms on December 15th.
On Saturday, the Hits Radio Street Team were in Altrincham offering locals the chance to win two free tickets to Hits Radio Live on Sunday 25th November.
The festival ticket winners, who will get to see Little Mix, Cheryl, Ellie Golding, and The Vamps live, will be announced on Saturday at the lights switch-on event.
Both the show and the Christmas lights have been funded by Altrincham’s Business Improvement District (BID) and the Stamford Quarter shopping centre.
On December 1st, there will be another showing of local school choirs and dance troupes on the Stamford Quarter stage and the annual lantern parade will work its way around the town from 4 pm.
For those wishing to join the parade on December 1st, there will be free drop-in lantern making workshops throughout the day at Total Fitness on Denmark Street and Aura Music Academy will kick-off the festivities with carols in Goose Green prior to the parade.