THE countdown to Christmas will begin in Alton next Friday (November 25).

Santa Claus will make a flying visit to join town mayor Matthew Bayliss in officially switching on the town’s festive lights to usher in Christmas.

And the popular family event will see the unveiling of a new display that will feature two ‘dressed’ Christmas trees – one in the Market Square and the other at the Assembly Rooms – to complement Alton Town Council’s glittering blue and white-themed lighting scheme.

Starting at 5.45pm, this year’s switch-on ceremony will be hosted councillors Bisi Eni-Olotu and Dean Phillips, with the mayor taking centre stage alongside Santa to bring a fresh new look to the evening’s festivities.

They will be joined by Alton town crier Stan Whitcher, the Salvation Army Band, young singers from Alton Infant School, the Holybourne Singers directed by Rebekah Abbott, and the mayor’s chaplain, the Reverend Andrew Micklefield.

To add to the festive atmosphere there will be children’s funfair rides in adjoining Lady Place car park.

Headline sponsors for the event are Specsavers, with long-term sponsor of the Market Square’s 25-foot Christmas Tree, PJ Grace Commercial and Domestic Garden Maintenance.

Bisi Eni-Olotu, chairman of the town council’s community and events committee which oversees the lighting display, said: “With its new Christmas lights this year, the council is hoping that residents will be enthused to visit and admire the festive lighting and at the same time take time to browse the shops in town, securing that special present from one of the many shops that continue to make Alton a special place.”

The lights will be lit from 3pm to 11pm each evening until January 6.

In addition, Alton Town Council will be placing its illuminated traditional Nativity scene in its Market Square shop throughout December.