Christmas 2016: Where to watch lights switch-ons in Shropshire and Mid Wales

There will be markets, choirs and lantern parades accompanying events across the region.

Community leaders say the events will not only bring communities together, but will also help boost local economies.

Telford's Christmas lights switch-on will be staged on Saturday. Shoppers will be able to watch pyrotechnic displays outside McDonald's and House of Fraser at Telford Shopping Centre in the lead-up to the switch-on at 4pm.

There will also be visual displays from the FlameOz Fire Show, stilt-walking fairy tale princesses, and the winter wonderland birds.

Glynn Morrow, Telford Shopping Centre manager, said: "

We're confident the jam-packed schedule of events lined up for the Christmas lights switch-on will not only put all our loyal local shoppers in the festive spirit but also show visitors to Telford something they've never seen before."

Elsewhere in the borough, Dawley will be lit up on November 25. The Mayor of Great Dawley will switch on the lights at 6.30pm after an entire afternoon of events starting at 12.30pm.

Procession

In Newport, a procession through town kicks off a night of festivities on the same day, when the lights will be switched on by the winner of a Christmas card competition.

Newport town councillor Peter Scott said it will bring the town together.

Wellington's main event happens on November 26 and includes a Victorian market. A fun day will run from 9am to 6pm, with the actual switch-on taking place at 5pm.

On December 2, some of the cast of The Place's panto Sleeping Beauty along with The Abraham Darby Brass Band, Jac Cassidy Clubbercise and The Cordinairies will be in St Georges for the lights switch-on.

The festivities start at 3pm leading up to a 6.30pm switch-on.

A Christmas market will kick-off events in Oakengates on December 3. The market starts at 9am and there is live music.

This Friday, the lights in Malinslee will be flicked on and the event includes a street fair, face painting and mascots. Santa will be dropping in during the event with fireworks at 6.30pm.

Madeley Christmas lights event will be held on December 3 from 2pm to 7pm and includes a Christmas market, street entertainment and fairground rides. The festive lights switch-on will be at 6pm.

Shrewsbury will have its Christmas lights switch-on event on tomorrow when there will be festivities spread across the town with live music taking place at several venues.

The fun starts at 4.30pm in The Square.

The traditional lantern parade sets off from Darwin Shopping Centre at 6.15pm, leading into The Square for the official lights countdown.

In the north of the county, activities in Whitchurch will build up to a 5pm switch-on on November 26.

There will be a lantern parade kicking off at 4.30pm.

Market Drayton will flick the switch on Saturday. It will be an all day affair with Christmas stalls, singing and entertainment building up to the main event at 5pm.

The streets in Ellesmere are expected to be full of people on November 25 for its festive event.

From 4pm, the town will host a Christmas market plus a grotto experience and at 6pm the tree of light will be illuminated accompanied by carols in the square.

In the south of Shropshire, there will be a variety of stalls, entertainment and attractions at Bridgnorth's event on Friday.

The festivities will start in Bridgnorth High Street at 4pm leading up the lights switch-on.

And Broseley's Christmas lights evening on November 26 will include Father Christmas, stalls, and fireworks. In the Birchmeadow Centre there will be entertainment from 1pm to 5pm, and the lights will be switched on at the Memorial Gardens at 7pm.

Meanwhile in Church Stretton, celebrations are being held in The Square from 2pm on November 26. There will be a Santa's grotto, entertainers and mulled wine leading up to the main event at 5pm.

Wellington's main event also happens on November 26 and includes a Victorian market. A fun day will run from 9am to 6pm, with the actual switch-on at 5pm.

Much Wenlock's Christmas lights switch-on will take place at 4pm on December 3 in the Square, while Clun's happens a day later between 7pm and 8pm.

The Shifnal lights will be switched on at 6.45pm on November 25 but, from 6pm, visitors can enjoy the popular Christmas market, disco, pig roast and free face painting.

In Powys a lantern parade starts at 4pm in Llandrindod Wells next Saturday.

The parade will go from the the market to the bandstand, where the lights will flicked on at 5pm, followed by carol singing led by the Llandrindod Wells Silver Band.

The festive fun in Newtown will begin at 4pm on November 28 when there will be a food and crafts market with street entertainment and music.

It will lead up to the arrival of Santa at 6.45pm to switch on the lights at 7pm.