BEWDLEY residents will be lining the streets of the town later this month when the town’s lights are switched on to start the countdown to Christmas.

Thousands of excited people are expected to fill the town’s streets on Saturday, November 29, for a fun-packed day filled with entertainment for the whole family.

The Christmas Lights Festival will kick off at 2pm when more than 90 stalls will be lined up along the riverside selling goods such ranging from small artisan craft makers and food suppliers to local charity and community groups.

A parade, led by the Children’s Nativity Group, will set off at 5.15pm before the lights are switched on by Bewdley mayor Derek Killingworth, Bewdley Carnival princesses, and Father Christmas at 5.30pm.

Music lovers will be entertained by local choirs, singers and dancers, as well as a stilt walking fire eater and a samba band.

Children will be kept entertained by funfair and fairground festivities taking place on Load Street car park.

St Anne’s Church will be open during this year’s festival for coffee and cakes in aid of the Church of England Children’s Society and various stalls run by school young enterprise groups.

Organisers of the event said the event should make Bewdley the ideal place to come and do Christmas shopping as the town’s shops will be open as usual.

About 6,000 people turned out to last year’s Christmas Lights Festival and organisers said the response to this year’s event has been “unprecedented”.