A FESTIVE light parade is set to kick off Christmas celebrations in St Helens this weekend.

The parade, organised by St Helens Council in conjunction with Willowbrook Hospice, will take place in the town centre on Saturday, November 30.

The day, which coincides with the pop-up Christmas Market in Church Square, will also feature arts and light-making workshops, as well as various forms of festive entertainment.

The light parade will begin at 4.30pm from St Helens Town Hall before reaching Church Square at 5pm, where the Christmas Tree lights switch-on and festive performances will take place.

As previously reported, due to funding shortages, the council has cut back on its festive lights celebrations - which have traditionally involved a music show - in favour of a more community-focused event.

The timetable of events in St Helens involves:

  • Pop-up Christmas market in Church Street, 10am to 6pm
  • Festive Street entertainment in Church Square from 10am to 3.30pm
  • Arts & Crafts including Christingle making in Parish Church, Church Square, 10am to 4pm
  • Grumps at Christmas - Storytime with Sue Gerrard, at St Helens Bookstop, Bridge Street, 11am to noon
  • Stick Man - animated film at Lucem House Community Cinema, Corporation Street 11am to noon (doors open at 10.30am).
  • Wonder Arts Light Making Workshops - former Go Outdoors Store, Church Street, 11am to 4pm
  • Lantern and Light Parade, 4pm meet at St Helens Town Hall, parade begins at 4.30pm and finishes in Church Square at 5pm
  • Christmas Tree Lights Switch-on and festive performances, Church Square at 5pm.

Corporation Street's Lucem House Community Cinema+ and Bridge Street's Book Stop will host a family showing of Julia Donaldson's Stick Man, with local author Sue Gerrard reading her book The Grumps at Christmas.

Meanwhile, Earlestown town centre will celebrate Christmas a week later, on Saturday, December 7, with a similar light parade and pop-up market.