All set for Christmas fun in Darlington

THE countdown is on to the big switch on of this year’s Christmas lights in Darlington town centre on Thursday 22 November from 5pm.

The event will mark the start of Christmas in the town alongside special parking offers, late night shopping, a special Christmas market and, for the first time ever, an ice sculpture trail.

Thousands are expected to fill the Market Square from 5pm as TFM Radio’s Steve and Karen get everyone in a festive party mood along with Santa and his helpers. The switch on takes place at 6.30pm followed by a fireworks finale.

Christmas fun and shopping continues afterwards as the market and local shops stay open until 8pm, giving shoppers the chance to browse the wide range of stalls and shops. Bus users can take advantage of a family ticket for £5 on Arriva buses from 5pm the night of the Christmas lights switch on.

Based in West Row and on High Row, the market opens from 9am until 8pm and will offer a unique range of festive gifts and food to get everyone in the festive mood. The Christmas market will continue (10am-4pm) until Sunday 25 November.

The lights switch on also sees the launch start of late night Thursday shopping and of the festive parking offers with free parking after 3pm every day in any council-run car park until 2 January.

Festive highlights in the town centre include the first ever ice sculpture trail in the town on Saturday 8 December. Visitors can follow the trail and have a go at ice arts as well as enter a competition to count the baubles in the treasure chest.

There will be a rail themed sculpture and the chance to have an ice selfie with angel wings.

The first ever #LoveDarlo 12 Days of Xmas gets underway on the same day with the chance to win prizes by solving the “naughty elf” clues each day – visit the #LoveDarlo Facebook page for more details.

A special leaflet has been produced with details of all the events leading up to the big day. This is available around town centre venues.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “We’ve got Christmas well and truly wrapped up here in Darlington. Our annual big Christmas lights switch on will be the start of what promises to be a fantastic range of exciting events that are free and fun for all the family.

“We’ve worked together with local retailers, the markets and with our LoveDarlo partners to make sure that there’s lots of things lined up to entice families into the town for festive fun and shopping. With our parking offers and local bus offers, there is no reason why Darlington shouldn’t be on everyone’s Christmas shopping list.”

Details of events can be found at www.darlington.gov.uk/events