ONCE again we have reached that time of year when the nights are drawing in and everybody is eagerly anticipating Christmas.

And it’s time to get the party started this Sunday November 23, with the switching on of the Christmas lights in Taunton.

To celebrate the start of the festive season, roads in and around the town centre are being closed to traffic so the party will be bigger and better than ever between 11am and 5.45pm.

The Taunton Town Centre Company is staging a fantastic full day of entertainment in the main shopping area of town. The fun will range from acts such as the Blackdown Samba band, Adam Isaac and the Charlie Hearnshaw Quartet.

There will also be stage performances from the Mean Feet Dance troupe and the popular visiting Continental Market will be sited in High Street.

This year there is also a delightful local Christmas market, with the local farmers’ market serving up some wonderful food in Castle Green, alongside craft stalls and children’s activities. There will be live seasonal music from the crème de la crème of students from Richard Huish College, in Taunton, to help get everyone in the festive mood.

The festivities will culminate in the most sparkly of endings, with a special fairytale princess arriving in style to switch on the lights to a background of fireworks.

Switch-on day marks the start of the festive season in Taunton with late night shopping until 9pm every Thursday from November 27.

Also, look out for the return of the hugely popular ‘Real Ice’ Skating Rink from Thursday, December 4 until Saturday, January 4 situated just outside The Brewhouse Theatre. It is bound to prove fantastic fun for all the family. Book your tickets online at www.tauntononice.co.uk or directly from the Brewhouse, adults £6.50, children £5.50

●THE County Gazette’s promotional caravan will be situated outside the Alliance and Leicester from 2-5pm on Sunday. And anyone who buys a copy of this week’s paper will receive a free balloon and lots of goodies.