Stage set for Oswestry Christmas festival
A Shropshire town was kicking off its Christmas celebrations tonight ahead of a weekend of fun.
Oswestry's annual Christmas Live festival will begin at 6pm, with Santa throwing open the doors of his grotto from 5.30pm in the indoor market.
Events will be centred around the Bailey Head and Festival Square. A stage will be set up in front of the market hall on the Bailey Head for local bands to play.
Christmas foods of all flavours and locally made crafts will be on sale in a street market on Bailey Head and Bailey Street and shops will be staying open for late night shopping.
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In Festival Square there will be an ice rink and fairground rides in the nearby car park. The evening will include fireworks in Cae Glas Park at 9pm and events will finish at 10pm.
Tomorrow the celebrations will continue with the town's Christmas parade, organised by the Borderland Rotary Club. Roads will be closed through the town centre for the parade, which will set off at 11am.
After the parade there will be more festive events on the Bailey Head, including a nativity, carol singing and a Christmas character treasure hunt for children.
Father Christmas will be in his grotto again, with money raised tonight going to Hope House and tomorrow going to Guide Dogs for the Blind.
