Christmas aloud at this year’s Darwen lights switch on with Nadine Coyle!

Pop superstar and Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle will be lighting up Darwen’s Christmas event this year.

This year’s festivities kick off in style on Saturday 17 November with the annual Christmas Light Switch On. And finish off with a spectacular firework finale.

Rock FM will be joining Nadine in Darwen Market Square for an evening of fun, festive treats and music for all the family. You can join Rock FM’s Steve and Janine from 4:30pm in Darwen Market Square spectacular firework finale.

Nadine started in the UK’s biggest girl band after being named one of the winners of Popstars: The Rivals and has enjoyed a solo career and TV work.

This is the first of a jam-packed Christmas Programme which brings Santa’s Grotto, a Christmas market, crafts and children’s entertainment plus a visit from two very real Santa’s reindeer. Activity will be taking place every weekend in Darwen from the lights switch on event until Christmas.

Fridays will also be festive in Darwen Market, with choirs from Darwen primary schools performing Christmas carols each week from Friday 23 November and every Saturday you can expect to see something festive happening whilst you do your shopping.

There will be pop up stalls in Darwen Market, two of Santa’s reindeers for you to come and visit and Jacks of Frost festive characters on stilts bringing some cheeky Christmas banter. Be entertained by Community Choirs, Urban Gypsies, Darwen Brass Band and music in the Market Hall Tea Dance plus you can get crafty on Saturday 24 November, Saturday 1 December and Saturday 22 December and look out for face painting too!

And following the success of the Christmas Market last December, Darwen Town Council once again bring festive stalls offering gifts, food and drink on Saturday 8 December.  Darwen Market is joining in, with the festive edition of the Darwen Market Kitchen event; this sees your favourite traders create some classic recipes with their own special twist.

Be sure to stop by for free tasters, recipe cards and to pick up all your festive food and drink!

Darwen Rotary will have the annual Santa’s Grotto inside Darwen Market Annexe every Saturday in December and Christmas Eve. Children will get the chance to meet Santa, have their picture taken and receive a Christmas gift, for a small charge. The group is also holding a Christmas Carol Concert in Darwen Market Square on Saturday 22 December 4pm to 7pm. Grab a drink, take part in the raffle to raise funds for Darwen Tower repairs and enjoy your favourite Christmas Carols.

Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said:

The eagerly awaited Darwen Christmas Light Switch On marks the start of an excellent programme of activity, with something for everyone this Christmas. Events in Darwen are very well supported and we hope that these will be no exception.”

For all the up to date information and full This Christmas in Darwen programme listings, please visit: www.darwentowncentre.co.uk.