SKIPTON is set to launch itself into Christmas this weekend with what promises to be a spectacular start to the festive season.

Most of Sunday will be devoted to the switching on of the Christmas lights, kicking off with the Great Skipton Santa Fun Run in the morning, and including a horse-drawn sleigh, courtesy of Thwaites Brewery, and a performance of The Greatest Showman, by pupils of Skipton Academy.

Children will be thrilled to see characters from Frozen, Elsa, Anna, Hans and Olaf, for a mass singalong, to coincide with the release of Frozen II, and there will also be performances from Skipton Brass Band, Northern Dance Centre, the All Together Now choir, and musician, Jimbo Lynch.

The lights themselves will be turned on at 5pm by 14 year old Olivia Mitton, winner of the council’s Christmas card competition, and the town mayor, Peter Madeley.

Kerry Wheelwright, events and tourism manager for Skipton Town Council, organising the event in partnership with Skipton Business Improvement District (BID), said Sunday would see the unveiling of a new set of lights, including for the first time, lights in Victoria Square.

“We always get comments about how beautiful Skipton looks at Christmas and how lovely our festive lights are, and we wanted to ensure we can maintain and build on this,” she said.

“Our contract came to an end with our last supplier so we took the opportunity to commence a new partnership with Christmas Plus - who are going to ensure the town centre looks fabulous for the festive season.”

The entertainment will run from 1pm, centred around a specially built stage at the top of the High Street and at 2pm, Santa Claus, accompanied by his wife, will arrive in the town centre in a sleigh pulled by a magnificent pair of Shire Horses, on loan from The Lister Arms, Malham and Thwaites Brewery.

The Frozen characters will be mixing with the expected crowds during the afternoon, ahead of a sing-a-long just before the lights are turned on, outside the town hall.

People will also be able to enjoy a festive market in the High Street, featuring artisan makers,and there will be mulled wine, ‘boozy’ hot chocolate, German Bratwurst and roast chestnuts.

There will also be free workshops for children, including help in writing letters to Santa, a nativity dressing up, and donkeys, a snow globe, fairground rides, birds of prey, and face painting.

“We really wanted to put on a big event to launch the start of the festive season in Skipton,” added Ms Wheelwright.

“The event really showcases the best of Skipton, and we encourage attendees to use the opportunity to explore our wonderful town and support our amazing shops and businesses. We are really lucky in Skipton that we have such a great array of independent traders and chain stores and we encourage the town to support them over the festive period.”

Some town centre streets, including the High Street, will be closed to traffic on Sunday, between 5am and 9.30pm. There will be no overnight parking on the setts on Saturday.